Organised by the Finnish Aeronautical Association in early August, the Kaivari21 air show was the first air show in 20 months that we were able to attend, and it marked a welcome return to sound and spectacle of fast jets, display teams, and flares.

The Kaivopuisto Air Show 2021, also known as Kaivari21 (Kaivari is a nickname for the Kaivopuisto park in Helsinki where the air show was held), is a free seaside air show.

Finland is in the final stages of the HX Fighter Program to replace their fleet of Boeing F/A-18 Hornets by 2030, and the air show had flying displays by all the aircraft being offered to replace the Hornet, namely the Saab Gripen E, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II.

After the practise displays finished on Thursday we got talking to some of the Finnish photographers that were also present, and they mentioned that Russian Sukhoi SU-35 fighters were off the coast of Helsinki during the practise display by the Patrouille de France. At the time we thought, "that's cool", and thought no more of it.

However, while editing pictures from the Patrouille de France practise, it appears that we managed to capture some planes in the background, way off the coast, maybe the Russians were at the air show after all?

Friday 6th August was show day and again the weather was perfect.

A varied 5-hour display was flown, comprising fast jets, display teams, vintage propliners, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, and helicopters. A Finnair A350 jetliner and a Cessna TU206G Turbo Stationair floatplane also put in unscheduled appearances.

It was great to get back into the swing of things after going for so long without travel, air shows or fast jets. The fact that it wasn't raining at Kaivari21, and the fact that we had blue skies for both days, made a great air show all the sweeter.