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Finnish Hornet will shine again over the Mošnov airport
Visitors of the upcoming NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days can look forward to another very attractive dynamic display. After four years, the Finnish solo display team returns with the F/A-18C Hornet.
The Finnish Air Force represents a truly formidable force for a country of five and a half million people. It currently operates over 60 F/A-18 supersonic fighter aircraft, which provide air cover but can also engage ground targets. After four years, one of them will demonstrate its outstanding flight capabilities at the NATO Days.
"The participation of the Finnish Air Force at the NATO Days has always been a great experience for the visitors, whether it was the Midnight Hawks aerobatic group or the F/A-18 Hornet demonstration," says Zbyněk Pavlačík, Chairman of Jagello 2000. "We also have in our minds the impressive performance of the Swiss Hornet from 2019, so we are looking forward to seeing where this year's Finnish display pilot raises the bar in his performance."
The F/A-18 Hornet was originally developed as a multi-role fighter aircraft for service on US Navy aircraft carriers. However, its performance has also persuaded US allies to acquire it for use beyond its original naval purpose. The first F/A-18A Hornet flew in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and today mainly the upgraded F/A-18C/D variants are in service, as well as the much improved F/A-18E/F Super Hornets still in production. Hornet versions A to D are operated by Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Finland and Malaysia.
Finland is a neutral and partner country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, but there are also considerations of joining the organisation, especially in view of the deteriorating security environment. This has led to the decision to increase defence spending by 50%, part of which will go towards the Hornet replacement project, instead of which the Finnish Air Force will receive 64 fifth-generation F-35A Lightning IIs between 2025 and 2030.
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