Prehistory
The flying in formation in Finnish Air Force leads its beginning before the World War II, when a formation of ten Gloster Gamecocks planes from Finnish Air Force Academy, perform at Midnight Sun Air Show in Kauhava airbase.
After the War, in Finland Air Force have some display team, which flies on Saab Safir, Fouga Magister, Valmet Vinka, BAe Hawk Mk 51, all flown by instructors from Finnish Air Force Academy.
Midnight Hawks History
In the begging of the 90th years of 20th century, four Hawk Mk.51 jet training planes from Academy, start to display not only at Midnight Summer Air Show, but in the other aviation celebrations trough the Finland.
Later in 1997, during Oulu International Airshow, this team receives its name Midnight Hawks. On 30 June 2000 they make its foreign debut in Austria.
In 2008 season Midnight Hawks start to use smoke pods added on the each wing. The first practice with pods is on 17 June 2008, while the first display is on 20 June at Midnight Sun airshow.
What are Midnight Hawks
The team consists of five BAe Hawk Mk.51 airplanes, while only four perform at the demonstration and the fifth plane is spare. Team's planes have no color insignia, exclude numbers from 1 to 4 on the tail, which added only in the displays. Spare plane is always number 7. In earliest years the team planes were painted in dark and light olive at the upper fuselage and grey at the bottom, while the present colors are dark and light sea grey. All planes are from 41 Fighter Training Squadron based at Kauhava airbase. Each year team's pilots changed, while present members candidates at equal rules with new comers. Ground crew is from 41 Fighter Training Squadron.
