Completes Successful 1:40 First Flight
Patria of Finland recently flew CMC
Electronics' Cockpit 4000 integrated avionics suite on the Hawk
Mk51 trainer aircraft from Halli Airfield, Finland. CMC's avionics
suite performed successfully during the one hour and 40-minute
first flight, which was flown by two Finnish Air Force test
pilots.
In February 2007, CMC Electronics announced that its Cockpit
4000 glass cockpit avionics had been selected by Patria for their
upgrade of 15 BAE Systems Hawk trainers for the Finnish Air
Force.
The Hawk provides basic and advanced training at Kauhava Air
Base for pilots destined for the F-18C and F-18D equipped
front-line squadrons. The contract covers the adaptation of CMC
Electronics' Cockpit 4000 integrated avionics suite for the Hawk
Mk51 trainer aircraft and a Hawk simulator. The upgrade aims to
further increase the quality of flight training, by improving the
Hawk jet trainers' training efficiency and extending the training
that is currently carried out on Hawk aircraft.
The BAE Systems Hawk Mk51 first entered service with the Finnish
Air Force in 1980 and the Mk51A version was delivered in 1993.
"CMC's Cockpit 4000 integrated glass cockpit is designed
specifically to lower training costs while offering superior
training capabilities and, if required, to provide an operational
weapons delivery role," said Jean-Michel Comtois, vice president,
military aviation for CMC Electronics. "By utilizing CMC's advanced
cockpit avionics, fast jet pilot training, from basic to advanced
level, can be performed using a single training platform, resulting
in a significant savings."
Jukka Holkeri, executive vice president of Patria, stated: "This
order further strengthens the partnership between the Finnish Air
Force (FINAF) and Patria. In addition to the evolvement of the
domestic fighter training, the Hawk modernization improves Patria's
and FINAF's joint efforts to offer training services for foreign
customers. Patria also looks forward to partnering with CMC on
other future programs."
The Patria upgrade core avionics comprise CMC's
open-architecture mission computer, a wide field of view
SparrowHawk Head-Up Display and Up Front Control Panel, two 5x7
inch Multifunction Displays (one in each cockpit), and a HUD
repeater for each aircraft. In addition, the avionics suite
features proven operational flight programs that integrate the
aircraft sensors, radios and weapons systems to provide a wide
range of navigation and mission requirements. CMC notes its
standardized avionics solution minimizes the integration effort
required for aircraft installation -- a key factor in reducing
costs for customers.
Patria currently supports a fleet of 49 BAE Systems Hawks for the
Finnish Air Force, the majority of which were assembled by
Patria.