IN ENGLISH
The history of the Midnight Sun Airshow started in 1945 when Finnish Air Force Training Air Wing (Lentosotakoulu) personnel organized the first midsummer airshow, which gathered 6267 spectators. Training Air Wing instructors performed formation flying and all major Finnish Air Force types were flown - and the tradition was born. The airshow grew and became Midnight Sun Airshow and festival. The annual event gathers foreign participants and some 15 000 spectators every June. The airshow starts 7 p.m. and lasts close to midnight when the last display is flown. It is a great experience for spectators and visiting aircrews as well to watch or perform a display under the Midnight Sun.
The Midnight Sun Airshow is the only international airshow in Finland organised regularly every year. Therefore the Finnish Air Force is participating in the Midnight Sun Airshow with all major aircraft types, both in the air and on the ground. The Midnight Hawks display team of the Finnish Air is based at Kauhava AB and the airshow is their "home show". As the Midnight Sun Airshow is organised at Kauhava AB, which is also the home to some 40 BAe Hawks belonging to the Training Air Wing, the event has an important public affairs and recruiting role for the Finnish Air Force.
In addition to the military aircraft the show will feature a variety of civil aviation aircraft and activities.
Midsummer and its Midsummer Eve is the most important festival in Finland and the whole country is basically closed that weekend while everyone is celebrating midsummer. With this in mind the Midsummer Festival at Kauhava AB has booked many top class music performers who will play in the aircraft hangars in turns with flying and other activities.