Karelian Air Command

The Karelian Air Command (Finnish: "Karjalan lennosto", abbrevated "KarLsto"), also known as the Karelian Wing is the peace-time Finnish Air Force unit, responsible for the protection of the airspace of south-eastern Finland. Its headquarters is located at the Kuopio Airport at Rissala, near the city of Kuopio. The wing consists about 20 F-18 Hornets, belonging to the No. 31 Sqn and six radar stations. The unit has about 600 personnel, of whom 450 are enlisted and the other 150 conscripts. The Headquarters no 7 is also located at the air force base.

The unit was created in 1918 as the "Lento-Osasto II". During World War II it was to encompose the Fighter Squadrons 24, 26 and 28. The unit was moved to Rissala after the wars, and the fighter wing was divided between Flying Regiments 2 and 3. Flying Regiment 2, was later equipped with Fouga Magisters and MiG-21s. The unit flew MiG-21s from 1960 until 1998, when it received its F-18 Hornets.

Fighter Squadron 31

The 31st Fighter Squadronis the operational unit of the Karelian Wing. During Peace-time, its main duty is to guard its assigned air space, and if needed, to prevent unpermitted use of it. In order to be able to do so, it is equipped wih some twenty F-18 Hornet fighters and 5 liaison aircraft. The wing has also an F-18 weapons training platform, called WTSAT or "Weapons Tactics and Situational Awareness Trainer". The unit has also a number of special vehicles, such as rescue and refueling vehicles.

During peace-time, the unit consists of four flights:

;HQ Flight;1st Flight:Fighter unit, equipped with F-18C/Ds and also trains mechanics;2nd Flight:Fighter unit, equipped with F-18C/Ds and trains pilots;4th Flight or Liaision Flight:Flies Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo aircraft

Each flight has about 100 personnel, consisting of e.g.:

*Pilots
*Technical personnel
*Rescue personnel (also civilans)
*Equipment personnel (also civilans)
*Air traffic controllers (also civilians)
*Civilans

Conscripts are mainly used as help mechanics and as refuelers.

External links

* [http://www.ilmavoimat.fi/index.php?id=94 Karjelian Air Command]