Following recent trips to Poland and Portugal, the seven FA2 Sea Harriers of 801 Naval Air Squadron deployed to Pirkkala Air Base in southern Finland for ADEX 03.

The week-long exercise also involved three squadrons of Finnish F-18s, Finnish Hawks, four Swedish Ja37 Viggens and two FRA Falcon jamming aircraft.

The main effort each day was focused on the COMAG package, which typically involved eight to 12 ‘friendly’ (blue) aircraft and a similar-sized ‘enemy’ (red) force.

The Sea Harriers took their turn as both blue and re forces, giving pilots the chance to plan, brief, lead and debrief large packages of aircraft.

Outside of the COMAG packages there were also other air-to-air sorties, allowing the different nations the opportunity to work together to overcome language and tactical differences.

Opportunities for adventurous training in Finland were limited, but several squadron members did manage to complete the PADI open water divers course.

The Staff Officer, in his dry suit, also led a hardy bunch of divers in wet suits on a zero visibility wreck dive in water at 3 degrees Centigrade.

After surfacing in his wet suit, the Commanding Officer declared that he had enjoyed the dive, but never wanted to be that cold again. The Air Engineer Officer was still visibly blue two days later.

The remainder of the squadron visited the local attractions in Tampere, trying to get used to the 24-hour daylight – better that than the winter, when there is around four hours of daylight and temperatures of –40 degrees centigrade.

Media interest in the exercises was high throughout 801’s stay in Finland, with the local press on hand to meet the aircraft on their arrival.

Sadly, the seven-ship arrival back in Yeovilton, which was to be captured by the cameras of HTV News, was thwarted by what appeared to be the biggest thunderstorm in Somerset’s history.

However, the sight of the jets appearing out of the torrential rain and landing with plumes of water on the runway did make a spectacular sight.

The exercise gave the squadron a chance to visit a country that most had never been to before, and work with the very hospitable, friendly Finns, who all spoke good English – a major benefit, as the knowledge of Finnish among 801 Squadron staff was limited, to say the least.

Special mention must go to the engineers, whose exceptional hard work meant that all seven Sea Harriers arrived in Finland and lost only one sortie to unserviceability.

Planning is now under way to visit Sweden next year to work with the Viggens and Grippens.