The Aviation Magazine No 52 September-October 2017 | Page 52
The Finnish Aeronautical Association is the national and central organization of sport aviation in Finland.
SIL organizes one main air show every year and usually it's in different location each year, last year it was
at Rissala airport, Kuopio (home base of Karila Air Command).
This year air show is in Seinäjoki airport (EFSI) which is relatively small airport, 2000m runway with no
regular air traffic. It's home base for Etela‐Pohjanmaan Ilmailukerho (Southern Ostrobotnia Aviation Club)
and they were the main organizers this year.
Main attraction were fighter jets, because Finland is currently reviewing new multi role fighter to replace
older F/A‐18C Hornets. This gave a good opportunity to see the Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A‐18E/F Super
Hornet and JAS 39C Gripen in action.
Each day the program started off with DC‐3 arrival with passengers, also it made one sightseeing flight
every day, and in the later afternoon it returned to Vaasa airport with passengers. Saab had ground stand
for more information and as well a JAS Gripen fighter on display with impressive arms selection.
Organizer were expecting 10000 spectators, but already first day it was clear that there will be more than
that, weather was excellent at first day and I'd estimate that there were 10000 already at Saturday. One of
the more interesting aircraft was the old VL Viima II, a tandem seat biplane, there were only about 20
made and only 2 are airworthy.
Finnish Army had their own stand and they showed the NH90 TTH which is a medium‐sized, multi‐role mili‐
tary helicopter that replaced recently Mil Mi‐8 helicopters, and a Hughes MD500 Defender, a light