Here is a trip report from our family holiday to Finland this August. We travelled with our campervan from our home near Munich via Poland and the Baltic states, so there are some sightings from this countries as well (mainly w&r but also some airfields that were passed en-route:
Pictures of the trip can be found here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JYsWQpCWdTTYT4VF7
Jadwisin 31/07/2020
the truck stop still had the Mi-2 "35 red" in fake colours on the roof of a container.
Olesnica 31/07/2020
The Iskra is still preserved here but the serial was changed to 0504 (no longer "1978" as stated in EMOOS)
0504 TS-11 Pol. AF preserved on pole
Wieruszow 01/08/2020
SP-LKI Li-2 LOT preserved
Lask 01/08/2020
1230 TS-11 Pol. AF preserved
Chechlo 01/08/2020
(0628) Mi-2 Pol. AF preserved
Nieborow 01/08/2020
1608 MiG-21PF Pol. AF preserved
(1009) TS-11 Pol. AF preserved
Marki 01/08/2020
(0622) Mi-2 Pol. AF preserved
Kaunas-Aleksotas (EYKS) 01/08/2020
aircraft of interest at the airfield comprised:
LY-AHZ Yak-52 ex DOSAAF c/n 877608, marked 1000 yellow
LY-AHY Yak-52 ex DOSAAF c/n 877406
LY-AKU Yak-50 ex DOSAAF c/n 842810
LY-ANP Yak-50 c/n 811907
SE-GRL Lake LA-4
preserved with museum (only outside exhibits):
LY-VRK VK-9 preserved
06 yellow An-24B Lith. AF preserved (former registration LY-AAI and CCCP-46666 also visible)
CCCP-70224 An-2 preserved
(591382) 08 red L-29 Sov. AF preserved
05 yellow Mi-2 Lith. AF preserved
12 blue Mi-8T Lith. AF preserved
04 yellow Mi-2 Lith. AF preserved
01 blue L-39C Lith. AF preserved
(76212110) 95 yellow MiG21PF Sov. AF preserved (actually unmarked)
stored in a corner were:
(903112) 34 red An-14A Sov. AF stored
02 white Ka-26 Lith. Police stored
Kaunas Airport (EYKA) 01/08/2020
storage area eastside of terminal:
LY-ARI, LY-RUM, LY-OOV ATR42 Danu Oro Transportas (all white), all three stored in various stage of stripping
SE-MDC ATR42 DAT stored
EI-FNW B737-86W Air Italy stored (all white with logo)
ZS-SFH A319-111 SAA stored
LY-NVU A321-231 Avion Express stored (all white)
EI-DAK , SP-RSZ B737-8AS Ryanair stored
LY-LEO A330-302 Getjet stored
stored overside:
D-AEUC A321-211 stored plus two more airliners not identified
active aircraft parked terminal side:
LY-AVA L410UVP Transaviabaltika
Panevezys Istra 01/08/2020
preserved at the airfield are the following aircraft:
691916 14 red L-29 Sov. AF preserved
543725084 Mi-2 Sov. AF preserved
150S001 35 white MiG-21SM Sov. AF preserved
05 yellow MiG-23MLD Ukr. AF preserved
82 blue Su-15TM Ukr. AF preserved
LY-HAP Mi-8T preserved
Keila 02/08/2020
2901901 82 red An-12BP Sov. AF preserved
Tallinn Airport (EETN) 02/08/2020
there is a road leading around the airport fence on the opposite side of the terminal. So viewing and photography here is easy and comfortable:
parked in the GA area in the eastern part were:
ES-ACA AC.500
ES-MAA Ce208B
ES-MPV Pa-23-250E
ES-NSD SF.340B Nyx Air
ES-RAZ L-39C (all blue, no titles)
ES-TLH L-39C (all blue, no titles)
"3 white" L-39 (Estonian AF?)
an all blue L-39 without visible civil registration but a big white "serial" 3 and a huge estonian roundel on the tail was parked near the border guard hangar. I do not really know but this looks like another new L-39 for the Estonian Air Force
ES-VBN BN.2B
ES-VPD Pa-34-200T
ES-KLT P.180
in and around the terminal area were:
OH-LCH C-53C Air Veteran
ES-ACF CRJ700 SAS stored
ES-ACG CRJ900 SAS stored
ES-LAA A320-232 Airest stored
ES-MBD B737-31S Kam Air (all white) stored
ES-MBE B737-800W Air Ukraine stored
ES-PJR Jetstream 31 Avies departed
ES-SAM A320-232 Smart Lynx stored
ES-SAQ A320-232 Smart Lynx (all white) stored
LY-EWE B737-33R Get Jet (all white)
OE-LBJ A320-214 Austrian stored
OE-LBC A320-214 Austrian stored
OE-LBF A321-211 Austrian stored
OE-LBM A320-214 Austrian stored
OE-IAH B737-7K2 Jettime stored
OH-ATP ATR72-500 Nordic Regional Airlines (scheduled aervice)
S2-AIJ B737-8Q8 Regent Airways stored
SP-LII Emb170 LOT scheduled service
YL-AAS A220-300 Air Baltic scheduled service
YL-LCL A320-214 Smart Lynx Airlines (all white) stored
ZS-SZG A320-232 SAA 6200 stored
Border Guard area+hangar
ES-PKY KingAir 350 Estonian Border Guard (inside hangar)
ES-PWA AW.139 Estonian Border Guard (inside hangar, maintenance)
ES-PWB AW.139 Estonian Border Guard (arrived)
ES-PWC AW.139 Estonian Border Guard (inside hangar)
Helsinki 02/08/2020
After disembarking from the ship in Helsinki harbour we immediately drove to the preserved MiG-21 in Helsinki town. It is on the roof of the building but not visible from the street. Anyway, just take the lift to the viewing platform and you can get close by.
MG-130 MiG-21MF Finn. AF preserved
Torp 02/08/2020
two items of interest at the local small museum for me:
MG-114 MiG-21MF Finn. AF preserved
CCP-25267 Mi-8T Aeroflot preserved
Turku Airport (EFTU) 03/08/2020
DK-208 Saab 35BS Finn. AF preserved
G-NPTA B737-86NBCF West Atlantic Cargo Airlines
Uusikauunki 03/08/2020
to see the Safir when the Museum is closed (or if you like to save the money...) just continue to the right when you stand in front of the entrance. But bear in mind that you have to be quite tall to see into the window (I took my little son on my shoulders and he took a picture of it)
SF-5 Saab 91D Finn. AF preserved
Pori Airport (EFPO) 04/08/2020
first I went to the tech school. A friendly guy showed me the aircraft in the hangar and explained me their story. F.27 FF-2 was outside, the rest inside.
FF-2 F.27-100 Finn. AF GIA
FF-3 F.27-300 Finn. AF GIA
PA-3 Pa28R-200 Finn. AF GIA
RG-4 L-90TP Finn. AF GIA
N311LJ Learjet 24D GIA
at the active side two aircraft could be seen: HA-FAN was parked and prepared for the daily flight to Helsinki.
HA-FAN Emb.120ER B.A.S.
OH-FMA CM.170R ex Finn. AF aircraft was parked in the hangar to the left of the terminal.
Tampere Airport EFTA 05/08/2020
The best spotting location is in fact next to the terminal. Noted in the morning were:
OH-ABC Pa-23-250 preserved at entrance road
OH-ALP DA42
OH-DMP DA42NG
OH-TFA Emb505
CC-1 C-295M Finn. AF/TukiLLV departed
LJ-2 Learjet 35A Finn AF/TukiLLV local mission
PI-03 PC-12 Finn. AF/TukiLLV local mission
VI-14 Vinka Finn. AF/HävLLV41 arrived
Mänttä 06/08/2020
seen through the windows of the Vovational school were the following:
FM-16 CM.170R Finn. AF G.I.A.
OH-BKA King Air 100 G.I.A
Pa-31 PC-3 was actually not seen but could well be there as one window was not accessible.
Jyväskylä-Tikkakoski 06/08/2020
Museum:
I did not visit the Museum itself as I have been there in 2004. But some of the aircraft parked outside were new for me, so I paid a visit:
DK-270 Saab 35CS Finn. AF preserved
HS-1 Mi-8T Finn. AF preserved
GN-104 Gnat F.1 Finn. AF preserved
MG-138 MiG-21MF Finn. AF preserved
MK-126 MiG-21MF Finn. AF preserved
(1709) Lim-5 Pol. AF preserved in fantasy colours
After that I tried to see some active aircraft, but the aerodrome was closed with huge construction works on the runway.
Before travelling further I drove past the preserved Draken at the Air Force Academy:
DK-202 Saab 35BS Finn. AF preserved
Kuopio (EFKU) 06+07/08/2020
a row of 12 Hawks was parked on the old runway in the military area, next to the parking of the civil terminal. This could be a good part of the active Hawks within the Finnish AF. It seems they have been flown over from Jyväskylä where the airfield was closed (see before)
HW344/44 Hawk MK.51 Finn AF /HävLLV41 (dark grey c/s)
HW349/49 Hawk Mk.51 Finn AF/HävLLV 41 (dark grey c/s; 30 years marks)
HW350/50 Hawk Mk.51 Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (dark grey c/s; also marked "4" with Midnight Hawks)
HW353/53 Hawk MK.51A Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (dark grey with finnish flag on tail and engine intakes, also marked with large "4")
HW355/55 Hawk MK.51A Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (dark grey c/s)
HW356/56 Hawk Mk.51A Finn. AF/HäVLLV41 (dark grey c/s)
HW-364/64 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (r/wh c/s)
HW366/66 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (r/wh c/s)
HW367/67 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (r/wh c/s)
HW368/68 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (r/wh c/s)
HW373/73 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF/HävLLV41 (r/wh c/s)
HW374/74 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF (r/wh colours, dark grey tail)
OH-ATM ATR72-500 Nordic Regional Airlines (operating the evening Helsinki Service)
on friday morning, the following were flying:
HN-405/05 F-18C Finn. AF/HävLLV31
HN-417/17 F-18C Finn. AF/HävLLV31
HN-436/36 F-18C Finn. AF/HävLLV31
HN-461/61 F-18D Finn. AF/HävLLV31
HN-4.. F-18C Finn. AF/HävLLV31
OH-DAM DA42
Isoniemmi 07/08/2020
We passed the so far unknown Mi-2 at the local filling station. It wears fake red colours but the c/n plate was still there so I was able to identify the aircraft:
(RA-14092) Mi-2 preserved (c/n plate reads: 5210701078)
Kittilä Airport (EFKT) 09/08/2020
the northernmost preserved aircraft in Finland can be found at Kittilä airport where a Draken is mounted on a pole:
DK-203 Saab 35BS Finn. AF preserved
Rovaniemi (EFRO) 11/08/2020
I spent the whole morning at Rovaniemi airport. Spotting is easy and comfortable from the carpark to the left of the terminal. The flightline is also visible on the far side from here, so you can see what to expect that day.
DK-211 Saab 35BS Finn. AF gate guard
GN-110 Gnat F.1 Finn. AF pres. at barracks
HN-408 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 1 mission
HN-412 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 2 missions
HN-416 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 2 missions
HN-420 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 parked on the flightline
HN-434 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 2 missions
HN-440 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 2 missions
HN-441 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 1 mission
HN-445 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 1 mission
HN-452 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 2 missions
HN-457 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 2 missions
HN-465 F-18D Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 arrived
HN-466 F-18D Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 2 missions
HN-420 F-18C Finn. AF/ HävLLV11 parked on the flightline
PI-06 PC-12 Finn AF/TukiLLV local mission
OH-ACN RC.690A parked on apron
OH-ATG ATR.72-500 Nordic Air Transport to and from Helsnki
SE-JRF BK.117D2 Scand. Air Ambulance several missions
UR-DBB R66 visiting, nightstop
UR-HAA R66 visiting, nightstop
UR-KEK Bell 505 visiting, nightstop
Pudasjärvi (EFPU)
DK-219 Saab 35BS Finn. AF preserved
Oulo (EFOU) 12/08/2020
I was quite surprised when I met 10 of the 12 Hawks i previously saw at Kuopio again here at Oulo. Obviously they are now based at Oulo for the duration of the runway closure at their homebase, since they were flying local missions on 12 and 13/08. Anyway the small military area at Oulo is quite overcrowded with 10 aircraft.
HW-350/50 Hawk Mk.51 Finn. AF parked
HW-367/67 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF local mission in the evening
HW-373/73 Hawk MK.66 Finn. AF local mission in the evening
HW-355/55 Hawk Mk.51 Finn. AF parked
HW-368/68 Hawk Mk.66 Finn. AF parked
HW-364/64 Hawk Mk.66 Finn. AF local mission in the evening
HW-368/68 Hawk Mk.66 Finn. AF parked
HW-353/53/4 Hawk Mk.51 Finn. AF parked
HW-374/74 Hawk Mk.66 Finn. AF parked
HW-366/66 Hawk Mk.66 Finn. AF parked
SE-JRG BK.117D-2 Scand. Air Amb. local mission
OH-LKE Emb.190LR Finnair
OH-LKK Emb.190LR Finnair
Revonlahti 13/08/2020
I drove past the Ka-26 that is preserved along the E8 route and can confirm its identity now:
(this also updates the soviet Transports section in Scramble plus various other websites)
RA-19565 Ka-26 preserved (c/n 7504806)
Alähärma 14/08/2020
RA-46576 An-24B ex Pskoavia pres at Fun Park
the Saab 91 and Wilga which should be here was not seen as we did not enter the park and searched for it.
Kauhava 14/08/2020
FM-12 CM.170 Finn. AF pres on pole
HW-303 Hawk Mk.51 Finn. AF pres on pole
PY-1 Pyry I Finn. AF pres in pagoda 1
SF-7 Saab 91D Finn. AF pres in pagoda 2
SZ-25 Fw44J Finn. AF pres in pagoda 1
VI-6 Viima II Finn AF pres in pagoda 1
VN-9 Vinka Finn. AF pres in pagoda 2
Menkijärvi (EFME) 14/08/2020
a huge airfield with a few things of interest. The MiG-23 which I saw years ago at Tampere reappered here. The MiG-21 is on the opposite side but can easily be seen from the main road.
0390320549/35 red MiG-23MLD Sov. AF stored
(8910) MiG-21MF Pol. AF preserved
Koskue 15/08/2020
(28326) J28B FV preserved, marked as 'VA-7'
Lämpälää 15/08/2020
the guy here build his own private arstrip complete with fake ICAO code and other eqipment. No sign of the An-2 HA-MDO which should also be here but I started no further investigation as it is a private garden.
OH-BLL C-45G preserved ex USAF 51-11842
Tuulonen 15/08/2020
the DC-2 i preserved inside but has huge windows, so can be seen at any time. The FW44J is hanging from the ceiling at the entrance of the Tokmanni drugstore (but I think can also be seen when the shop ic closed through the outside doors. The MiG an Draken are parked opposite the parking outside.
DK-249 Saab 35BS Finn AF preserved
DO-1 DC-2 Finn. AF preserved
MG-124 MiG-21bis Finn AF preserved
SZ-18 FW-44J Finn. AF preserved
Vesivehmaa 15/08/2020
the guy at Pori told me that here was a flying display at Vesivemaa today which can be viewed from the car. As me and the family didn`t want to spend several hours in the car watching aerobatics by some planes I decided to call in in the early evening, hoping to see some of the aircraft still present.
This turned not true as every of the proposed aircraft (Hawk, Vinka, NH.90 + some warbirds) did not land or have already left again.
But a friendly guy opened the museum for me so the visit was not totally fruitless.
airfield:
OH-SIS Cessna 208
Museum:
(16/250) Tupolev SB-2 Sov. AF rear fuselage of crashed aircraft
AE-59 Aero A-32 Finn. AF preserved
CA-50 Caudron G.59 Finn AF preserved
DK-207 Saab 35BS Finn. AF preserved
FM-71 CM-170 Finn. AF preserved
GL-259 Gladiator Finn. AF parts of crashed aircraft
GN-112 Gnat F.1 Finn. AF preserved
HS-5 Mi-8PS Finn. AF preserved
HS-6 Mi-8PS Finn. AF preserved, outside
KA-147 Kotka I Finn. AF preserved
MG-131 MiG-21bis Finn. AF preserved, outside
MG-140 MiG-21bis Finn. AF preserved
MU-2 MiG-15UTI Finn. AF preserved
(PY-26) Pyry II Finn. AF preserved, frame only
RI-140 Ripon Finn. AF preserved
VT-6 Vampire T.55 Finn. AF preserved, forward fuselage
no sign of Vampire VA-3 (I forgot to ask where it is...)
Suomeniemi 16/08/2020
RA-25525 Mi-8T ex Aeroflot preserved in immaculate condition
Taipalsaari Range 16/08/2020
I discovered with google maps that the distance from the street to the Draken is about 800m - so I decided to walk there. It was a sunday afternoon and I was quite sure that I would be alone in there.
DK-229 Saab35F Finn. AF range target
DK-263 Saab 35F Finn. AF range target
Lappeenranta 17/08/2020
the museum was closed when I was here last time, but this time I was successful!
DK-213 Saab 35BS Finn. AF preserved outside
FM-42/X CM.170 Finn. AF preserved in shed 1, wings seperated
FM-50 CM.170 Finn. AF preserved outside
GN-103 Gnat F.1 Finn. AF preserved on pole at entrance
GN-106 Gnat F.1 Finn. AF preserved outside
H-47/5 Harakka II Finn. AF preserved shed 2
(HR-2) Mi-4 Finn. AF stored under tarpaulin, boom was missing
HS-4 Mi-8T Finn. AF preserved outside
(MG-77) MiG-21F-13 Finn. AF preserved between the hangars, fake marks as 'MG-127'
MG-127 MiG-21MF Finn. AF preseved outside
MK-106 MiG-21UM Finn.AF preserved outside
(PY-16) Pyry II Finn. AF fuselage frame, outside
(PY-..) Pyry II Finn AF forward fuselage, mainly frame left. According to owner is a Pyry II but identity is unknown.
(OH-HTE) R22 stored shed 1 (identified from c/n plate)
OH-SFB/31 Saab 91D ex Finn. AF SF-31 preserved in shed 1, wings in shed 3
OH-U323 Nieuport 17 Replica preserved shed 2
(RA-70623) An-2R unmarked in fake wh/gr/or colours. under restauration. This An-2 used to be in Utti town at a local ABC station and will return there when the restauration has finished.
Utti (EFUT) 18/08/2020
Utti is not the best place for spotting. From the civil area you have quite a good overview but I struggled with the heathaze and backlight in the morning. There were two NH.90 outside on the ramp. One was flying and could e identified, the other one not. Furthermore, they tend not to come in in runway direction which makes it more difficult to choose the right spot to stay.
NH-208 NH.90TTH Finn. AF/HekoP para dropping
NH-... NH.90TTH Finn. AF/HekoP on the ramp
MT-452 BF.109G Finn. AF pres at pagoda
Pyhtää 18/08/2020
610 TS-11 Pol. AF preserved
Sipoo 18/08/2020
RA-70171 An-2TP preserved
RA-24349 Ka-26 preserved
Helsinki-Vantaa 19/08/2020
only a very short stop here since the wrong runway was in use for a good photo spot and I have already visited the Museum here before.
Only thing of interest for me was the MiG-21 outside at the museum. Nothing of interest in the GA area as well.
MG-135 MiG-21bis Finn. AF preserved
Helsinki-Malmi 19/08/2020
loads of single engine planes present here. I was last here in 2004. I remember it was no problem to get an airside access to the big old hangar between the terminal and the Coast guard area. To my surprise by peering into a back window of this hangar I found it completely empty. Probably they have an safety issue with the building.
The coast Guard hangar was closed and no aircraft was visible.
aircraft of interest comprised:
OH-HBB R44 HeliWest
OH-HBE H.369E HeliWest
OH-HBV R44 HeliWest
OH-HEA AS.350B3e Heliwest
OH-HPC R44
OH-HRW R44
OH-HTK R44
OH-LCH C-53C
OH-MXN LA-4
OH-XLA DH.82A
OH-SIS Ce 208
Riga-Spilve (EVRS) 20-08-2020
our long journey home began, brightened up with several stops en-route. First one was at Riga, unfortunately it was not possible to go airside, since nobody was available to escort us.
Seen from the entrance was:
YL-CCF An-2TP
YL-LEV An-2P
Riga-Skulte (EVRA) 20-08-2020
the visit at the airfield was rather disappointing. The whole area was a big construction zone, it was impossible to get to the museum or to the ramps from the terminal side. So the score was limited for the Tu-22 und Tu-134 parked on the opposite side of the runway and the preserved Il-38 in town. I decided to come here once again for the museum and the rest.
38 blue Il-38 Sov. AF preserved
53 red Tu-22M Sov. AF preserved
RA-65717 Tu-134A Aeroflot stored
Siauliai (EYSA) 21/08/2020
I was there as early as 07.45AM because I learned, that the two RC-12X on TDY here should depart every day at about 8AM. Rather frustrating to see ironically today they departed out of Riga (the airport that I left yesterday evening in a hurry) and only passed overhead at FL170...
But the visit was not bad at all, from the area of logistic company you have a good view on the ramp of the Lithuanian Air Force.
02 blue L410UVP Lith. AF departed
03 blue An-26B lith. AF stored westside
20 blue Mi-8T Lith. AF camo c/s, stored, missing rotors
24 blue Mi-8T Lith. AF green/white/orange c/s, stored, missing rotors
26 blue Mi-8T Lith. AF grey c/s, active
28 blue Mi-8T Lith. AF grey c/s, stored
84-00170 C-12U US Army departed
LY-ELK A320-232 Getjet stored westside
LY-MGC B737-4YO Getjet stored, westside
LY-PGC B737-4S3 Getjet stored westside
Pociunai 22/08/2020
one of the more interesting GA fields to visit. The Soviet AF An-2 in original colours in the main hangar are very interesting, the many Wilgas around making the score complete.
Obviosly the AN-2 did not take up their civil registration, since they are not readable on the aircraft (but the old soviet code and the following Lithuanian code do)
main hangar:
11 white An-2 ex Sov AF 21 yellow also visible (LY-AHO), stored
31 white An-2 ex Sov. AF 43 yellow (LY-AHP), stored without engine
77 white An-2 ex Sov. AF 44 yellow, (LY-AHQ), stored
LY-AGE PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 18840793 stored, missing engine
LY-AHJ PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 107373, complete but not looking airworthy
LY-AHL PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 128461, complete, obviously active
LY-BHK PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 96305, active
outside:
LY-AHM PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 128462, active
LY-AHN PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 18840789, active and used as glider tug that day
LY-AKJ PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 128417, active
LY-EJP L-13SH
SE-LTC Commander 112 visiting
opposite side (paraclub)
(LY-AQA) An-2R stored without wings
LY-AHA An-2R a/wh, active
there used to be a number of An-2 fuselages stored in a corner here, but all have gone by now.
Alytus 22/08/2020
hangar (seen through windows):
LY-AJC PZL-104 ex DOSAAF 85240
LY-AIR Yak-52
LY-AIP Yak-18T ex DOSAAF 5200709, under restauration
LY-AIW Yak-52 ex DOSAAF 877704
outside:
15 yellow An-2R Lith. AF preserved
Skierniwice 22/08/2020
464 MiG-15bis Pol. AF preserved
Lipce Reymontowskie 22/08/2020
1803 Lim-5 Pol. AF preserved
Regards,
Alex
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