Finnish Air Force lifts flight ban on Hawk training jets

Finland’s Air Force has lifted the flight ban on its entire fleet of Hawk training jets, allowing flight training at Tikkakoski to resume normally, Yle reports.

Flights were suspended at the end of July after a technical failure in the engine of a Hawk Mk 51 aircraft. The suspension also led to the cancellation of a Midnight Hawks aerobatic team performance and flypast at the opening ceremony of the Jyväskylä World Rally.

The Air Force said the investigation has progressed far enough for the Mk 51 and Mk 51A fleets to be released from the ban gradually after inspections.

The newer Mk 66 Hawk aircraft were cleared to fly on August 3. The ban on the Mk 51 fleet was lifted last Friday.

The Hawk jets are used to train new fighter pilots. The Midnight Hawks aerobatic team is scheduled to perform next at the Danish Air Show in Denmark on September 13.

The Air Force has 31 Hawk jets. The oldest Mk 51 aircraft were acquired in 1980, while the Mk 51A aircraft were acquired in 1993. The Air Force estimates that it will take months to determine the final cause of the engine failure.