Author Topic: LLv34 Spring Tour -03 (Read 930 times)

LLv34_Camouflage · « **on:** May 12, 2003, 07:11:12 PM »

Hi guys!

Four swedish Lentolaivue 34 -members visited Finland this past weekend. Here's the photo report!

Friday

On friday just before noon, Camo found some lost swedes
wandering in the aviation section at the Academic
Bookstore in downtown Helsinki. From left to right: Jompa,
WoodenFog, Falder, Jotte.

First we headed out to the war museum and saw the
Continuation War exhibition there. The guys were warmly
welcomed by the StuG at the museum, and more guns &
stuff were found inside. After a quick tour of the museum,
we headed to Helsinki-Malmi airport and had lunch at the
genuine LLv34 base. Jotte, Jompa, Falder, WoodenFog.

After Malmi, we headed to the Finnish Aviation Museum at
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. We saw the MT-208 as well as
some other vintage aircraft there. SmuliS and BlauK joined us
at the museum and we all headed downtown for dinner. Kossu
(Kuhlmey) joined us later at the restaurant as well. From left:
WoodenFog, Camo, SmuliS, Jompa, Jotte, BlauK, Falder.

After dinner we all headed to the Aviation Shop, the best
aviation bookstore in the nordic countries. After making
some good investments there, we made a short stop at
Camo's place and took off towards BlauK's summer cottage at
Kangasala. After a good evening of sauna, sausage,
beverages, historical Hallinportti WW2 documents and some
FB, all fell asleep like babies.

At Kangasala cottage, Friday night.. sauna and some sausage and FB after that.

LLv34_Camouflage · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2003, 07:12:22 PM »

Saturday

In the morning we started towards
Hallinportti, the Finnish Air Force techical museum.

We arrived at Hallinportti and met Mokkeri, Cougar and
Grendel (Icebreakers). We started right away and received
an excellent tour from the museum director. The tour wasnt
limited to watching, first hand experience was allowed as well!

As we entered the hangar, the guys couldnt stop smiling.
Falder has already entered the euphorious state, it seems.

The guys took a "cold type" of the Bulldog. Check six, Wooden!

When we visited Hallinportti the last time, we had difficulties
in getting the Revi gunsight reticle to work. This time we were
better prepared with 1.5V batteries. With the kind help of
the museum director, we managed to light the baby up. See
also Grendel's report of the incident: http://www.byterapers.com/~grendel/scan/revi/

The turn knob in the bottom of the sight adjusted the brightness
of the light. The light lit up the reticle which was reflected on
the sight. The reticle was focused into infinity, so you could
watch through the sight, focus on a target and the reticle
stayed sharp. The diameter of the reticle depended on the
distance that you looked at it. The optimal distance was
about 10-20cm or so. Grendel's camera was a bit far, the
reticle cant almost fit into the glass. It was interesting to
watch how the reticle stayed "on target" even though you
moved your head. Neat system!! We'll have to take some
video next time. BlauK and Camo lighting the Revi up:

LLv34_Camouflage · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2003, 07:13:04 PM »

There was so much to see at Hallinportti, we were running
behind on our schedule. We took off towards Tikkakoski and
arrived there after a little over an hours drive. We met Koff,
JussiK, Dictonius and Aati at the parking lot and headed in.
After a short coffee break at the cafeteria, we headed inside
and in a flash, all the guys had disappeared into the museum.

The museum was as clean as an operation room, all planes
were in excellent condition! We saw the P39, 109, PM, HM,
FR and all other interesting planes. With the kind permission
of the museum director, we got to inspect the planes "inside
the perimeter fence". Jompa and Jotte took a "tall-jim &
tuomikoski" pose at the MT tail:

Admiring the Mersu:

Thirteen LLv34 pilots. Most ever in one place at the same time:

After a great afternoon at Tikkakoski, we started our journey
towards Helsinki. We gathered at Cantina West, where Duke,
Moska, Smuli, Papabear, Jarski and Kossu joined us. From left: BlauK, Jompa, Papabear, Natt (back), Moska, SmuliS,
WoodenFog, Duke:

Moska, SmuliS, WoodenFog, SmuliS, Falder, Wmaker:

The dinner and a few buckets of beer made the trick, the
eyelids of the brave pilots started to sink and we headed to
Camo's place for the night.

LLv34_Camouflage · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2003, 07:13:40 PM »

Sunday

In the morning we headed to Malmi airport. Jarski acted as a
reckless taxi driver with a Cessna 172. Some turbulence was
encountered on the way, both weather- and pilot input
induced. Camo drove his car with Jompa and WoodenFog.
The destination: Kymi.

We met Pommi and Purjis at Kymi and saw *the* LLv34 base.
The aviation club has an excellent museum and we took a
tour of the hangar. We gathered outside for a group photo
around the LLv34 memorial. The header on the plaque reads:
"Quality Against Quantity". From left: Camo, Jompa, Jotte,
WoodenFog, WMaker, Jarski, Falder, Pommi.

The highlight of the day was glider flights over the base. The
towing to about 500m alt at about 150km/h gave a climb rate of
17 m/s, which felt like a rocket! It gave a slight glimpse of what
the climbrate of 24 m/s of the MT must have felt like!

Camo strapping into the parachute. "When you jump and
open the parachute, dont loose the handle. The handle costs
1500 euros", warned Purjis. Pommi joined with a single seater.
The unavoidable dogfight resulted in a slight win for Pommi, who
utilized the better climbing properties of the "LS8" to the full
extent! The climbing spiral proved victorious again!

WoodenFog being strapped in. Purjis made some "high drag
maneuvers" to bleed speed as they came in for the landing.
They topped at 4Gs. I dont think the grin has worn off WF's face yet.

Jompa being catapulted into the air. The gliders had the LLv34 eagle fledling emblem on the rudder, on the left side.

Jotte made the right choice and agreed to the ride of his life
as well. The cockpit was a bit too large for leprechauns, so
Jarski assisted to get the belts tight. The plane was piloted
by Onni Lehtinen, the famous Kymi artist who has painted
numerous MT paintings.

Wmaker just about to take off for a tour of the Kotka islands.

We also saw some 109 plane shelter remains beside the field.
The swedes had a boat to catch, so we started to head
towards Malmi again. Wmaker took a bus to Lappeenranta,
Camo & Falder drove, Jarski took the rest with the Cessna.
We met at Malmi and drove the Swedes to the harbour.

Thanks for the visit guys - see you again soon!

Camo

Saintaw · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2003, 02:16:09 AM »

Oh lord, pictures of nakid men, Run run before SOB catches you!

Noctilux · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2003, 03:41:25 AM »

Awesome! Hey, I don't speak Finnish and I'm not as skinny as you guys, but I'm a really big A-ha fan and I think "Eismeer" is a cool word. Can I join your squadron??

mipoikel · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2003, 03:43:04 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Noctilux
Awesome! Hey, I don't speak Finnish and I'm not as skinny as you guys, but I'm a really big A-ha fan and I think "Eismeer" is a cool word. Can I join your squadron??

A-ha is from Norway!;)

Grendel · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2003, 05:37:26 AM »

Who took the pic of me in the Bulldog? Could I have that one?

gofaster · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2003, 01:42:16 PM »

Cool photos! Reminds me of the time I hooked up with a couple of my old squaddies and toured "Fantasy of Flight" and the Warbirds Museum in Kissimmee, Florida. I still have a videotape of Vermillion's ride in an AT-6.

palef · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2003, 07:31:29 PM »

Looks like a fun time!

Funniest moment for me - JussiK looks EXACTLY as I had pictured him!!!!

palef