Header image shows (left to right): Joonas Sjöroos received the Pilvenveikkot trophy, Matias Rautava, representative of Tervalentäjät ry, winner of the community series of the Airfield Competition, Jukka Helminen received the golden medal of merit, Esko Tilli received the Finnish Aviation Statue, Kim Toppari received the Harmon statue and Sara Salonen received the Plum trophy.

The Finnish Aeronautical Association (SIL), host of the FAI General Conference 2025, serves as the central national organisation for sports, hobby, and general aviation in Finland. Governed by a board of directors and with sports committees and working groups, SIL oversees 10 recreational and competitive air sports: Experimental and Ultralight, Ballooning, Paragliding and Hang Gliding, Skydiving, Unmanned aviation, Powered flight and Gliding. Finnish aviators have significant successes and their achievements are rewarded by the organisation with awards.

SIL represents 6,000 individual members and 220 aviation clubs, and publishes the Aviation magazine. A major role for SIL is advocacy, ensuring sufficient airspace for recreational aviators amidst commercial and military requirements. Aside from this, SIL manages Finnish national records, educational projects, insurance, event organisation and national awards.

Fostering collaboration

An important role for SIL is to hold an annual strategy and networking event for SIL’s volunteers, leaders, discipline committees, safety experts, and FAI delegates. Professionals and enthusiasts representing air sports clubs and disciplines gather for Key Personnel days in an atmosphere that fosters networking and fun! Together, expertise is shared on topics such as safety, airspace regulation, and looking towards the future of air sports. It is considered a national summit for the people who keep Finland’s skies lively and safe.

The Key Personnel event typically includes:

• Workshops and seminars on aviation safety, regulations, and club operations
• Networking opportunities for people involved in sport and recreational aviation
• Recognition of achievements, such as awards or honours for contributions to Finnish aviation
   

The “Gliding Frost Parliament”

Organised by the Finnish Gliding Team, the annual winter gathering Purjelennon Pakkasparlamentti – literally “Gliding Frost Parliament” – brings together the gliding community to celebrate the sport in the off-season. Part seminar, part social cruise, subjects like glider safety, competitive soaring, weather forecasting, and international flying adventures are discussed during presentations, and afterwards over the dinner table! (Past speakers have included aircraft manufacturers, meteorologists, and elite pilots from across Europe.) A think tank for glider pilots, with a side of Nordic winter charm.

Celebrating homebuilders and vintage aircraft

The major summer gathering for builders and restorers of homebuilt and vintage aircraft combines with the Kuhmo Fly In, at one of Finland’s remote eastern airfields. The 2025 event takes place from 11–13 July, and coincides with the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival. In 2024, 48 aircraft attended, including participants from Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland. 

Kuhmo fly-in 2025

Skydiving at Juhannus - Finland’s traditional midsummer

The Finnish Midsummer Skydiving Boogie is a high-flying celebration of both skydiving and midnight sun. Organised annually in different parts of Finland, it is a week-long event in mid to late June. In 2025 the event was held at Alavus.

The Finnish Midsummer Skydiving Boogie (Credit: Eemeli Toivanen)

Everyone is welcome at this relaxed event which combines all-day jump operations, saunas, midsummer dances, and Finnish summer traditions. It’s all about the community, the midnight sun, and the joy of flying with friends during one of Finland’s most magical weeks of the year.

• See Air Sports in Finland article for further details of aviation events

 

Awards: recognising contributions in aviation

For over a century, the Finnish Aeronautical Association (Suomen Ilmailuliitto, SIL) has celebrated the pioneers, builders, and champions of aviation in Finland.

The SIL awards are more than just trophies, they are a living chronicle of Finnish aviation history, honouring those who have shaped its past and continue to inspire its future. They tell the story of a nation that has looks to the skies with ambition, ingenuity, and heart.

Harmon Trophy
One of the oldest and most prestigious awards in Finnish aviation, the Harmon Trophy is awarded to a Finnish pilot for outstanding flight performance. It was first awarded posthumously in 1926 to Lieutenant Kustaa “Köpi” Pukkinen, a pioneer of Finnish military aviation. In 2025, Kim Toppari received the honour for his achievements in gliding, including podium finishes in international competitions and multiple 1000+ km flights in Finland.

Suomen Ilmailupatsas - the Finnish Aviation Statue
Established in 1949, engineer Gunnar Ståhle donated the statue to the association. It is given to a person who has significantly contributed to civil aviation in Finland (regardless of their specific field or role) as chosen by the board of the Finnish Aeronautical Association. The ceramic statue weights almost 20kg and is held for one year by the awardee, then – with great care! – returned  for the next year’s recipient.

In 2025, aircraft mechanic Esko Tilli has taken the trophy home, in recognition of his decades of work maintaining Skydive Finland’s aircraft fleet.

Kotkanpoika patsas - Eaglet trophy
Donated by Aero Oy (now Finnair) in 1969 to mark SIL’s 40th anniversary, this sculpture by Essi Renvall is awarded to the most outstanding aviation club of the previous year: a symbol of dedication, teamwork, and the spirit of Finnish aviation.

Previous winners have been recognised for exceptional training schemes, introducing new students to aviation, resilience, innovation, active community engagement, multilingual instruction or a strong safety culture. For example, Vaasan Laskuvarjokerho (Vaasa Skydiving Club) received the award after training around 60 new students in a single year and maintaining high activity levels despite facing a serious engine failure. In 2025 this award was given to Pudasjärven ilmailukerho for their year-long work to produce numerous recreational, professional and military aviators together with Pudasjärvi aviation high school. 

Luumun malja - Luumu’s cup
The Luumun Malja has come to the final year in its 30-year run (1995–2025) and from next year will reside at the Finnish Aviation Museum, as outlined in its original rules. The annual award has been for a young Finnish woman (25 or under) who has shown exceptional merit in aviation. Established by famous Finnish skydiver Anneli “Luumu” Penttilä its aim was to encourage and recognise young female talent in aviation, with the motto read aloud at the ceremony: “If life gets difficult, gain altitude—you’ll see more clearly from there.”

The award’s final recipient was glider pilot Sara Salonen who stands out not only for her competitive success in the sport but also for her dedication to the community: she plays an active role in her local club and serves on the Finnish Gliding Committee.

Discipline Awards

Skydiving: Neste Cup
Awarded to the Skydiver of the Year, this trophy was first introduced in the 1980s. In 2023, Jorma “Jore” Löfgren received it for his 5,000+ jumps and decades of coaching.

Gliding:
Janne’s Cup: First awarded in the 1970s, it recognises the best club-class gliding performance. Tapio Tourula won in 2022 for his 4th place in the European Championships.
Satakunta Cup: Honours the top Finnish gliding performance of the year.
Uno Dahl Rotating Trophy: Given to the club that trains the most new glider pilots annually.

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: Nousukiito Award
A rotating trophy awarded since the 1990s at the annual autumn gathering. In 2023, it went to Tauno Montonen for his contributions to the sport.

Experimental Aviation: Sammon Haarikka
First awarded in 1979 to Atte Blomqvist, this ornate tankard honours long-term contributions to homebuilt and vintage aircraft. In 2020, Markku Niskanen was recognised for his work in aircraft restoration.

Aeromodelling: Pilvenveikkojen Cup
First awarded in the 1980s, this trophy is given to a promising model aviation athlete under 22. In 2025, Joonas Sjöroos received it for his success in the F3A Aeromodelling class.

Powered Flight: KAR-AIR Rotating Trophy
Established in the 1980s by the historic Finnish airline Karair, this award goes to a club with exceptional powered flight activity. In 2024, Hyvinkää Aviation Club earned the honour.

Honorary Medals
SIL also awards bronze, silver, and gold medals for long-term contributions to aviation. The first medals were issued in the 1950s, and in 2025, Jukka Helminen received the gold medal for his leadership in youth gliding training. Honorary memberships and honorary chairman nominations are valuable recognitions for active volunteers in air sports. In 2025, Raimo Makkonen was nominated as an honorary chairman of SIL.