Air Show Bound: Sion, Switzerland

Author: Ville Tuokko | Published: 14.9.2011 | Updated: 16.1.2012

The arrival of fall marks the end of the 2011 air show season in Finland, but the season continues elsewhere. The Midnight Hawks, the Finnish Air Force's display team, will give its final performance of the year to a crowd that is estimated to number around one hundred thousand spectators in Sion, Switzerland.

Departure for an air show abroad requires not only rehearsal of routines but also meetings and meticulous planning work. Photo: Finnish Air Force / Henri Vormisto

During the 2011 season, the Midnight Hawks put up displays in conjunction with the Open Days of service units, in the season's main air show in Turku, and in the Midnight Sun Air Show at Kauhava, the team's home venue.

There is one more international air show remaining in the calendar before the team retires to “hibernate” and rehearse the 2012 routine. The show is in Sion, Switzerland, where the team has made frequent appearances over the years.

The team has previously appeared abroad in the Air Power 2000 show in Austria, the Royal International Air Tattoo in Britain in 2004, the Royal Netherlands Air Force air show in Leeuwarden in 2006, and the 2009 Radom Air Show in Poland.

The Sion air show will be staged from 16 to 18 September in the stunning alpine scenery of southern Switzerland. The crowd is estimated to number no less than one hundred thousand.

The team's skills will be weighed up against other top-class European military display teams including the Patrouille de Suisse from Switzerland and Patrouille de France of the French Air Force. Solo performers will include a Swiss Air Force Hornet, a Swedish Gripen, a French Rafale, and an array of museum aircraft.

The departure of the Midnight Hawks far away from its home plate at Kauhava is preceded by thorough planning and preparation.

Four Hawks assigned for the display will be accompanied by an additional spare aircraft. Technicians who will take care of the launch and recovery of the team's aircraft, line maintenance, and any quick fixes will also be needed along with the required tools and spares. They will be moved to Sion in an Air Force C-295M transport.

The Midnight Hawks is scheduled to land at Sion a few days before the show. This is necessary to allow the team time to rehearse their routine in an unfamiliar environment. 

Sion Air Show website.

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Last updated 16.01.2012