Finland’s Patria recently flew Esterline CMC Electronics’ Cockpit 4000 aboard a Patria-upgraded Hawk Mk51 trainer aircraft and said the avionics suite performed successfully for two Finnish Air Force (FINAF) test pilots during the one hour and forty minute “first flight”rom Halli Airfield, Finland.
“CMC’s Cockpit 4000 integrated glass cockpit is designed specifically to lower training costs while offering superior training capabilities and, if required, to provide an operational weapons delivery role,” Jean-Michel Comtois, CMC’s vice president, military aviation, said in a statement.
In February 2007, Patria selected Cockpit 4000 glass cockpit avionics for their upgrade of fifteen BAE Systems Hawk trainers for the Finnish Air Force.
The Hawk provides basic and advanced training at Kauhava Air Base for pilots destined for the Boeing [BA] F/A-18C and F/A-18D equipped front-line squadrons.
The contract covers the adaptation of CMC Electronics’ Cockpit 4000 integrated avionics suite for the Hawk Mk51 trainer aircraft and a Hawk simulator. The upgrade aims to further increase the quality of flight training, by improving training efficiency and extending the training that is currently carried out on Hawk aircraft, Patria said.
The Hawk Mk51 first entered service with the Finnish Air Force in 1980 and the Mk51A version was delivered in 1993.
“By utilizing CMC’s advanced cockpit avionics, fast jet pilot training, from basic to advanced level, can be performed using a single training platform, resulting in a significant savings,” Comtois added.
Patria executives said the order further strengthens the partnership between the FINAF and Patria and that the company looks forward to partnering with CMC on other future programs.
“In addition to the evolvement of the domestic fighter training, the Hawk modernization improves Patria’s and FINAF’s joint efforts to offer training services for foreign customers,” Jukka Holkeri, Patria’s executive vice president, added.