The Karelia Air Command (Finnish: Karjalan lennosto, abbr. KarLsto; Swedish: Karelens flygflottilj) is the peace-time Finnish Air Force unit responsible for the protection of the airspace of Eastern and South-Eastern Finland. In spite of its name, the headquarters of the air command is not located in the Finnish historical province of Karelia, but in historical Savonia and the present-day province of Northern Savonia, at Kuopio Airport in Siilinjärvi.
Karelia Air Command
Karjalan lennosto(Finnish) Karelens flygflottilj(Swedish)
Distinctive unit insignia of the Karelia Air Command
The wing consists of some 20 F-18 Hornets, belonging to the No. 31 Sqn and six radar stations. The unit has about 600 personnel, of whom 450 are commissioned officers, NCOs and professional enlisted men and the other 150 are conscripts. The Headquarters no 7 is also located at the air force base.
The unit was created in 1918 as the Lento-Osasto II. During World War II it was to encompose the Fighter Squadrons 24, 26 and 28. The unit was moved to Rissala after the wars, and the fighter wing was divided between Flying Regiments 2 and 3. Flying Regiment 2, was later equipped with Fouga Magisters and MiG-21s. The unit flew MiG-21s from 1960 until 1998, when it received its F-18 Hornets.
The Fighter Squadron 31 is the operational unit of the Karelian Wing. During Peace-time, its main duty is to guard its assigned air space, and if needed, to prevent unpermitted use of it. In order to be able to do so, it is equipped with some twenty F-18 Hornet fighters and 5 liaison aircraft. The wing also operates an F-18 weapons training platform, called WTSAT or "Weapons Tactics and Situational Awareness Trainer". The unit also operates a number of specialist vehicles, including rescue and refueling vehicles.
In November 2018 it was announced that Lt Col Inka Niskanen would take charge of 31 Squadron as the first female commander of a Finnish fighter squadron, starting in 2019.[2]
Organizationedit
Headquarters Flight
1st Flight
Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds and also trains mechanics
2nd Flight
Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds and trains pilots
Each flight has about 100 personnel, consisting of e.g.:
Pilots
Technical personnel
Rescue personnel (also civilians)
Equipment personnel (also civilians)
Air traffic controllers (also civilians)
Civilians
Conscripts are mainly used as help mechanics and as refuelers.
Referencesedit
^"Karelia Air Command". ilmavoimat.fi. Finnish Air Force. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
^"Historiallinen nimitys: ilmavoimat nimitti naisen ensimmäistä kertaa hävittäjälentolaivueen komentajaksi" [Historical appointment: Finnish Air Force appoints first female fighter squadron commander]. Yle. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
External linksedit
Karelia Air Command
April 18, 2024
karelia, command, finnish, karjalan, lennosto, abbr, karlsto, swedish, karelens, flygflottilj, peace, time, finnish, force, unit, responsible, protection, airspace, eastern, south, eastern, finland, spite, name, headquarters, command, located, finnish, histori. The Karelia Air Command Finnish Karjalan lennosto abbr KarLsto Swedish Karelens flygflottilj is the peace time Finnish Air Force unit responsible for the protection of the airspace of Eastern and South Eastern Finland In spite of its name the headquarters of the air command is not located in the Finnish historical province of Karelia but in historical Savonia and the present day province of Northern Savonia at Kuopio Airport in Siilinjarvi Karelia Air CommandKarjalan lennosto Finnish Karelens flygflottilj Swedish Distinctive unit insignia of the Karelia Air CommandActive1918 Country FinlandBranchFinnish Air ForceSize20 30 F 18 Hornet fighters 500 active duty personnel 250 conscripts 1 Garrison HQRissala Kuopio AirportMarchSinivalkoinen marssiCommandersCurrentcommanderColonel Aki PuustinenInsigniaFlag The wing consists of some 20 F 18 Hornets belonging to the No 31 Sqn and six radar stations The unit has about 600 personnel of whom 450 are commissioned officers NCOs and professional enlisted men and the other 150 are conscripts The Headquarters no 7 is also located at the air force base The unit was created in 1918 as the Lento Osasto II During World War II it was to encompose the Fighter Squadrons 24 26 and 28 The unit was moved to Rissala after the wars and the fighter wing was divided between Flying Regiments 2 and 3 Flying Regiment 2 was later equipped with Fouga Magisters and MiG 21s The unit flew MiG 21s from 1960 until 1998 when it received its F 18 Hornets Contents 1 Fighter Squadron 31 2 Organization 3 References 4 External linksFighter Squadron 31 editMain article No 31 Squadron Finnish Air Force The Fighter Squadron 31 is the operational unit of the Karelian Wing During Peace time its main duty is to guard its assigned air space and if needed to prevent unpermitted use of it In order to be able to do so it is equipped with some twenty F 18 Hornet fighters and 5 liaison aircraft The wing also operates an F 18 weapons training platform called WTSAT or Weapons Tactics and Situational Awareness Trainer The unit also operates a number of specialist vehicles including rescue and refueling vehicles In November 2018 it was announced that Lt Col Inka Niskanen would take charge of 31 Squadron as the first female commander of a Finnish fighter squadron starting in 2019 2 Organization editHeadquarters Flight 1st Flight Fighter flight equipped with F 18C Ds and also trains mechanics 2nd Flight Fighter flight equipped with F 18C Ds and trains pilots 4th Flight Liaison flight equipped with Valmet Vinka PA 31 350 Chieftain Valmet L 90TP Redigo aircraftEach flight has about 100 personnel consisting of e g Pilots Technical personnel Rescue personnel also civilians Equipment personnel also civilians Air traffic controllers also civilians CiviliansConscripts are mainly used as help mechanics and as refuelers References edit Karelia Air Command ilmavoimat fi Finnish Air Force Retrieved 27 August 2018 Historiallinen nimitys ilmavoimat nimitti naisen ensimmaista kertaa havittajalentolaivueen komentajaksi Historical appointment Finnish Air Force appoints first female fighter squadron commander Yle Retrieved 21 November 2018 External links editKarelia Air Command Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karelia Air Command amp oldid 1214886212, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
