Translation …
‘Hornet sai sukset’ (Hornet got skis!) … the secret MLU modifications of Hornets
It has been heard from a reliable source (‘the horsemen’s news agency’) that the Finnish F.18 Hornet MLU update will include a ski modification. The modification will be carried out by Patria Aviation using workers on a government sponsored placement scheme. The value of the contract is about 33 million Euros. The contract will also support Finnish subcontractors and is worth 110 man work years.
Patria’s predecessor Valmet Lentokonetehdas (VL) has a long experience in manufacturing skis for aircraft, but instead of using aeroplane veneer and laminated plywood, the new skis will be made utilising modern materials such as carbon fibre, aramid honeycomb and titanium.
Snowy winters will turn the ‘land of thousands of lakes’ into the ‘land of alternate airfields’. Ploughing of runways can also be reduced, it only being necessary to pack the runway snow intermittently, which will help with cost saving targets. Destia (the national road maintenance organisation) is planning to reduce the snow maintenance of roads and airfields situated thereon, this would not affect ski equipped aircraft.
The project will be continued further by developing steam catapult and arrestor systems attached to the ice covering of the lakes by freezing in place. NATO common suitability certification will be applied for the ski modification as well as the catapult/arrestor system, and at least Norway has already expressed interest in purchasing the systems when in production.
Illustration by Mauno Selin
Ref.; Siivet Wings, 5/2010
