Two Fouga Magisters attend the Kaivopuisto Air Show

The Silver Jets Aerobatic Team participate in the Kaivopuisto Air Show on 9.6.2017 with two historical Fouga Magister Jet Trainers. The Fouga plays an important role in the history of the Finnish Air Force – it was the plane with which the Air Force ultimately entered the Jet Age.

The French Fouga CM 170 Magister jet trainer was chosen as the trainer aircraft for the Finnish Air Force in 1958. The new plane meant the final step for the Finnish Air Force in entering the Jet Age – during the following three decades, the Fouga was used extensively to train both conscripts and regular personnel, pilots and technical crew. The acquisition also meant a vital uplift for the Finnish aircraft industry – most of the 80 aircraft were license-manufactured at the Valmet factory in Kuorevesi.

After the Air Force decommissioned the Fougas, some of the aircraft were sold to civilian buyers both in Finland and abroad. Nowadays there are two airworthy Fougas in Finland. The Fougas are operated by the Silver Jets Aerobatic Team, founded in 2014, who voluntarily uphold the Flying Heritage of the Finnish Air Force.

“We wish to present our team performance as a tribute to the Hundred-Year-Old Finland and its people”, say the Silver Jets team members Ari Tolonen, Risto Viljanen (FM-37 / OH-FMA), Ari Saarinen and Pentti Kopiloff (FM-51 / OH-FMM).

Press Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilmailumuseo/albums/72157682650346236

Read more about the performers and other program on the Museum’s www-page: www.kaivariairshow.fi

or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kaivariairshow/

The Kaivopuisto Air Show is a huge, free-of-charge, aviation-themed event, organized by the Finnish Aviation Museum. The Show will be held on Friday Night, 9.6.2017. Various aircraft types representing the past, present and future of Finnish Aviation will take part in the Show. The Show will take place in the air, land and sea. Partners of the event include BAE Systems, Finavia, Finnair, Saab AB, SEK, The Finnish Aeronautical Association and the City of Vantaa.

Additional information:

Markku Kyyrönen, Museum Director, Finnish Aviation Museum
tel. +358 44 777 0797, markku.kyyronen@ilmailumuseo.fi

Perttu Karivalo, Air Show Director
tel. +358 40 5431539, perttu.karivalo@nightsky.fi

The Finnish Aviation Museum is a national special museum, it has the largest aeronautical collection in Finland. Finnish aviation and planes either designed or used by Finns are at the heart of the collection. The Finnish Aviation Museum is an active and interactive Museum up to international standards. The museum is located near the Helsinki-Vantaa airport and can easily be reached by several means of transport. The Finnish Aviation Museum is owned by the Finnish Aviation Museum Foundation.

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Photo: Aviation Photocrew / Eric Coeckelberghs