'Outstanding Success Story'

The Finnish air force marked a decade of flying the American F/A-18 Hornet during a ceremony last month on an air base near Tampere, Finland.

US Navy officials and aerospace industry representatives who assisted Finland with delivery of the fighter aircraft starting in 1995 gathered in a hangar at Satakunta air command, in the southern end of the Scandinavian country.

"This is an outstanding success story. We have excellent cooperation and confidence with the U.S. Navy. Over the last decade, you met our expectations for an effective and pilot-friendly fighter. We have raised the fire power and effectiveness of the air force to an entirely new level," said Maj. Gen. Heikki Lyytinen, commander in chief of the Finnish Air Force. "[We have] all the reason to celebrate our dominance of Finnish skies."

Finland has purchased a total of 64 F-18 Hornet aircraft -- including 57 single-seat models, and seven dual-seat trainers. The entire country has five million inhabitants, comparable to the population of London.

To put that into perspective, Finnish officials noted a United Kingdom purchase on the same scale would total 700 aircraft -- roughly one Hornet for every 15,600 residents.

"This is part of Finnish transformation, modernization," said Minister of Defense Juhani Kaskeala, who defined the US as an important international partner. Finland shares an 800-mile border with Russia.

The decision to purchase the aircraft allocated the nation's entire defense budget for three years, and was agreed to by national referendum. At the time, Finland's air defense was made up of MIG-21 and Saab J35 Draken aircraft.

The Hornet advanced Finland's air defense by two generations, said Lyytinen. Finland phased out the MIG and Saab aircraft when the last Hornet arrived in 2000.

U.S. Navy Capt. Donald Gaddis spoke to a large crowd that included more than a dozen Finnish media representatives.

"What makes the program so successful? I believe it is a culture of success," Gaddis said.

Finnish officials first considered purchasing new aircraft in 1988. Officials accepted offers in 1990 and selected the Hornet in January 1991.

"It was the fastest decision I've ever seen of this sort," said David Beckering of Boeing, the aircraft's primary builder.

The country's long-term plan is to keep the country's Hornets in service until 2030, according to Finnish officials.

FMI: www.ilmavoimat.fi/index_en.php