The Air Force has received the first Grob G115EA aircraft

The first Grob G115EA aircraft arrived in Finland from Great Britain. After making stops in Germany and Sweden for refuelling the aircraft landed in Tikkakoski base in the afternoon today.

The Vinka aircraft escorted the first Grob G115EA to Finland

After inspecting that the aircraft is in compliance with the contract, the Finnish Defence Forces' Logistics Command will draw up documents which confirm that the aircraft was received. The first G115EA aircraft will undergo test flights at the end of 2016 and this will be followed by modifications. The entire G115E/EA fleet will be modified in Finland for elementary flight training and basic flight training to meet the requirements in the long-term perspective.

The rest of the 27 aircraft included in the purchase contract will be delivered to the Defence Forces in the course of 2017. Flying the aircraft will start in 2017 but the actual training of pilot students will not start until 2018. The modified G115E/EA will replace the old Vinka taining aircraft in stages.

The delivery is part of the purchase decision made by the Minister of Defence on 7.10.2016 when the Finnish Defence Forces' Logistics Command was authorised to purchase the G115E/EA aircraft from the British company Babcock Aerospace Limited. The Air Force will introduce the aircraft at a point of time to be determined later.

INQUIRIES:

Deputy Director, Brigadier General (Eng.) Kari Renko, Finnish Defence Forces' Logistics Command, tel. +358 299 800 (Defence Forces' switchboard)