Article Posted on : - May 11, 2011

The Hawk Mk 66 jet trainer. A Finnish Air Force photo

HALLI (BNS): An upgraded Hawk Mk 66 jet trainer of the Finnish Air Force has made its maiden flight last week.

The aircraft, courting red-and-white paint and fitted with a new glass cockpit, took to the skies from the Finnish Air Force Flight Test Center’s base at Halli on May 5.

The flight lasted for 1 hour and 1 minute during which the crew verified the jet's engine and other flight safety systems.

The aircraft, designated HW-374, was purchased from Switzerland in 2007 along with 17 other pre-owned Hawk Mk 66s.

The Finnish Air Force has operated the Mk 51 and Mk 51A versions of the BAE-Systems-made Hawk jets since 1980.

The Air Force targets to introduce the entire fleet of 18 Hawk Mk 66 jets into service in 2011-20012.

The refurbished trainers will be assigned to the Training Air Wing at Kauhava for fast jet and tactical flight training.

All Mk 66s will undergo a cockpit upgrade which replaces conventional analog instruments with digital multi-function displays. The aircraft will also be fitted with a new digital mission planning and recording system.