RIAT 2023 FINLAND F-18 PULLING INCREDIBLE G-FORCES 4K

Kapteeni Henri Toppari is Finland's solo display pilot and had no intentions of being left out of the crowd stopping displays we had at the 2023 Royal International Air Tattoo. Flying his F/A-18 Hornet he pulled continuous G-forces up to 9 G from his performance tale off.
I still have a few uploads from RIAT and will have a Mach Loop video by the weekend
please don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to this channel if you haven't already done so

[@kevinriordan7842]

7 years US Navy aviation electrician and attached to F/A-18 C hornet with tons of flight deck experience. I have watched endless airshows on the beach and at sea (supersonic low altitude flyby) and this is the most impressive flight demo of a legacy hornet I have seen. Very cool.

[@Byrzzaa]

I live close to the largest air base in Finland where most of our Hornets are located. I have seen quite a few times pilot/s practising these demos over the airfield and in its vicinity. It's a quite popular road for cyclists that goes to the this airport and air base. I can say that my typical cycling training session takes a bit longer than usual when you stop "for a moment" to watch that dancing on the sky. 😉

[@kornolex]

These are not exactly legacy hornets you are seeing here... the thing was build by Patria in Finland. You do that thing in an old US navy stuff... that would cut its wings off by the weare. The airframe might be the same + titanium... and "stuff". + The fact that it is not american build batch. Practicly new. "some nokias here and there."

[@aazvank7000]

​@@kornolexwhat are they then if not legacy hornets.. do they have some magical component?

[@TomasOfTorquemada]

@@kornolex Come on with the fairy tales. Some of them were assembled in Finland by Patria Finavitec but that's no different from the Boeing assembly line. The programmed flight regime was relaxed from the USN requirements. Mechanically there's no difference.

[@TomasOfTorquemada]

@@aazvank7000 There is one that is funny. The original in Finnish service crashed but one half was salvaged. (I forget if it was the front or the rear half.) Asking around, Canadian Air Force happened to have a spare. The two were joined and this Finnish-Canadian hack is still flying. The roundel number for it is easy to find but I'm way too lazy today to look it up.

[@jackfinlayson9161]

Finnish F18 never disappoints. No one else can make a non thrust vectoring plane do what thrust vectoring can do. That slow flat spin was beautiful to watch

[@victormanuelpolanco922]

Hell , yeah!.

[@johandelen1838]

The Swiss F-18 display is not to be sneezed at either...🇫🇮 🇨🇭

[@LaggerSVK]

never seen that with F-18. I am wondering how they do it. If they switch off G-limits / Alpha-limits or if the fighter is reconfigured for the airshows in general?

[@sampoali-jaakkola1791]

The Finnish F18.s have red button what bypass the limits of the plane. No joke..

[@BIGGUY401]

Nah, you can compare it to Su-57 manoeuvres and you might be surprised. The F-18 is just a medium aircraft

[@dotarsojat7725]

With Kapteeni Henri Toppari at the controls, an F/A-18 looks capable of giving a Raptor, or its ilk, a run for the money. Brilliant Demo, caught brilliantly.

[@KC-nd7nt]

Hilarious

[@Meton12765]

No. These F18s are already beyond their manufacturers designed running hours and cannot take actually heavy G-loads. Or run with full armament, because the thing would tear itself apart.

[@DirtyMardi]

@@Meton12765no they aren’t. These aren’t US Hornets.

[@veewee4826]

​@@Meton12765wrong, these will fly with full capacity till 2026-2030 when well be getting the f35s

[@papayaman2495]

what are you talking about? :DDDD@@Meton12765

[@EveryoneIsFightingSomeBattle]

Did anyone notice him waving to the crowd during the high alpha pass at 5:37 That guy may well be the best Hornet pilot of all time.

[@ghostface6720]

Just like in 2019

[@ruumisautoilija]

If I remember correctly there is a different pilot every year flying these show flights. So he is just standard Finnish Air Force pilot.

[@ghostface6720]

@@ruumisautoilija kyllä

[@sipsipsippy3340]

i was on the grandstand and see him waving, think my dad got photo of him waving

[@Mugdorna]

Shocking level of confidence in his machine and his skills

[@victormanuelpolanco922]

Minutes 2:14 to 2:22, what the hell was that?. Actually the best performing jet in 0 airspeed conditions. Those elevators are gold such a great responsiveness and super powerful in pitch control. Great display, Finnish pilots know very intimately their mounts.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

I would say that was jet counterpart of scandinavian flick from rallying.

[@scottsmith491]

Incredible display! I've never seen an F18 flown to that level. I honestly didn't think an aircraft of that generation was capable of such a thing.👏🤯

[@DafyddPhillips]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@markusweissenbock6337]

They were not allowed to show off - difference to Russia, were they show off all the time ;)

[@aeon5566]

Check out the Blue Angels if you enjoy this Aircraft.

[@DrivermanO]

I thought the Finland flag coming up on the airbrake was a neat touch!

[@kornolex]

Finnish build hornet... some nokias added..

[@rogerkay8603]

Having the spatial awareness to do that confidentially is a gift very few men have. Superb again Dafydd, well done Sir. Never favoured the Hornet of all the teen series, might have to rethink seeing that. Love the Finnish flag on the air brake.

[@jonnekallu1627]

I used to live in an area where Finnish air forces did their training. I was used to seeing displays like this weekly. The term "knife fight in a phone booth" is an apt description for what I saw. It as quite amazing to watch the F-18's defy gravity as they turned and tumbled in tight circles at low speeds in the sky. Occasionally they would break off and gather some speed and then start again. The noise was incredibly loud and the windows at our house would shake. It was quite different to how Mig-21 and Drakens fought. Their circles were much larger but the speeds they flew were also higher. Good times.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Would Loved to have Been there! ✈️✈️👌 Thanks for watching.

[@mt451]

Years ago over Rovaniemi air drill with Drakens and Hawks, one Draken made a needle sharp turn straight up and down. My fighter pilot friend was flying Hawk and saw this manouver and heard in radio: "I'll go back to the base".... After landing pilots eyes were blood red and instruments showed 11G positive!! :O

[@mikakarki7989]

@@mt451 That DK pilot was oblicated to buy and serve a so called G-layercake to all. 5G was the limit (normal ops.) for DK. DK had a 2 separate G-gauges. 1 in instr.panel, 2nd in left main landing gear well. :-)

[@mt451]

@@mikakarki7989 Hawk pilot friend told me this moment privetly. Cannot reweal his name... :/

[@mikakarki7989]

@@mt451 No sweat, m8. That's quite understandable, for obvious reasons. 🤣

[@spydude38]

I've seen plenty of Hornets in action. This demonstration displayed something I was not aware that the Hornet was capable of. Very awesome.

[@Perkelenaattori]

There's a great audio clip here on KZbin of a group of 3 Russian planes being identified by one of our Hornets. They had an A-50 with them and they still barely saw the plane.

[@hornantuutti5157]

It is the recording of russian radio chatter while they wonder where the fin is and they have hard time to even figure out if finn is armed.

[@maxjanssen7872]

This is the best demo I have ever seen. The F 18 is truly awesome as is the pilot. Just perfect..😊

[@phbrinsden]

Take a good 4th gen plane and a very skilled Finn pilot and you can see much of the same flying that is bragged about with the Su57. This Finn pilot is truly skilled. And now he is in NATO! Bravo Finland.

[@LittleEvilSuzie]

Great video! ❤ I went to Turku Air Show last month and I have to say I'm proud of our pilots 🇫🇮

[@yksvaan1690]

Our politicians suck but our pilots are top notch.

[@ojcksn]

This display shocked me honestly, had no idea the hornet was that agile

[@miskaknapek]

Finnish cat at the controls, I've heard ;)

[@frodobaggins9932]

Most jets i see lately look way more agile then they used to be.

[@benjohnson4606]

That’s because it has no fuel tanks or stores on to limit it , it’s a clean air show jet

[@frodobaggins9932]

@@benjohnson4606 I mean in overall. More and more planes seem to be able to the match the manoeuvres which were usually limited to russian jets.

[@hoilst265]

LERx, baby! That big ol' shirt collar on it's not for keeping rain outta the intakes!

[@signpost5596]

@2:12-2:25. Wow, never seen a move like that! Respect for both man and machine 👍👍

[@yksvaan1690]

It's pretty. But most will miss it, because the inserted ads... are what they are.

[@miroslavturiak4578]

We went to RIAT for the first time this year, and I was really looking forward to seeing F18 and other jets, and F18 really gave us goosebumps! I felt like a thrilled little boy!

[@LaggerSVK]

Yeah, fins never cease to amaze me. Car handling and now Fighter jet maneuvers. Wondering how they made F-18 do this. Never seen it with any american jet.

[@DafyddPhillips]

The Scandinavian flick🏁✈️🤠👍

[@jucoco1]

one of the better hornet demos ive seen wow. The Finnish Flag on the speed break is an awesome touch

[@JaZZu777]

I can't wait to see these guys fly F35 in few years!

[@snakeman48]

One hell of a pilot

[@DafyddPhillips]

Agreed 👍

[@reiska9840]

I'm so proud of our boys! Truly hats off!

[@yksvaan1690]

Our media is bad but our pilots are good.

[@brunobegic3841]

The angle of attack the Hornet can pull is ridiculous. That's a fantastic jet that I feel like is very underrated nowadays. I remember a Swedish Gripen pilot saying that of all the fighters he went up against, the Hornet is the most scary in a dogfight.

[@giger5366]

I was at RIAT on the Saturday & I honestly think this was the loudest plane there! Remarkable 😎

[@mansurazeez2229]

The F-18 Hornet looks like an X-Wing fighter on planet Earth! 💪

[@jimt9261]

Impressive plane, impressive display.....I'm impressed ;-)!

[@DafyddPhillips]

Happy you enjoyed it Jim 👍

[@complexdevice]

That loaded roll at 0:47 was awesome.

[@lindaj5492]

OMG! 0:55+ Had to rewind & watch that crazy manoeuvre several times 😳. Never seen a fighter jet do a headstand before. And 2:38 - I thought only alien spacecraft & dragonflies were supposed to be capable of 90° instant turns…

[@yksvaan1690]

Sorry, the inserted ads kill your linkage. Saw what you mean though.

[@super_terram]

I'm clapping... and I wasn't even there. Wow. Perfection.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Happy you enjoyed, Thanks for watching

[@nuvostef]

Fighter jock élan: puttering along in a high alpha pass, trembling on the edge of a stall, while waving to the crowd. Brilliant. 😃🤙🏼 Thanks, Daf!

[@mt451]

I love this noise but once I was in Finnish military exercise and our tent was 100 meters away from nine F/A-18s. 0600 in the morning mechanics started to heat up motors one-by-one... NO NEED to set up alarm clock.... :X

[@TheNiskalaukaus]

Excellent camera work there, thank you. Seen the F-18 a few times, never ceases to amaze.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you.

[@TheNismo777]

Our pilots been trained pretty well :)

[@mikakarki7989]

Yep ...The FAF motto is "Qvalitas Potentia Nostra". It doesn't come from nothing. It has a fine heritage, since March 6th, 1918 and Thulin Typ D (licensed M-S Parasol).

[@terot8341]

And beating s*** out of those planes. Training usage is much more than ie. USAF.

[@poowaffle]

I did my military service targeting these guys and the flying was exceptional. Can't wait to see what these guys come up with the F35 in a few years.

[@croci81]

I'm quite sure the F-18 and most of the 4th gen jets are better planes for airshows because Western 5gen planes are planned to do their job in other ways... but maybe they will have something new than pure acrobatics :)

[@skipallen3309]

Awesome video as usual; I too was amazed at some of the maneuvers!!

[@MOKPT3]

Thank you for another wonderful video. I really like it where there are clouds so you can really see the slip angle of the plane. It really shows the amazing performance of the plane and control of the pilot . 0:53 is a perfect example....you could never see that with a perfect blue sky.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Glad you enjoyed it, I always prefer a cloudy backdrop when photographing/filming fast jets.

[@mt451]

@@DafyddPhillips Semi cloudy weather is best for filming air shows. Been videowing several cases since 1998. Sun behind back is best.

[@MOTO809]

I got to watch one of the last shows the Blue Angels put on in the Legacy Hornet. It was incredible, but nothing beats a solo demo when they really push the aircraft. Great video!

[@ilmarinen79]

I enjoyed that camera work. I even saw the pilot waving, haha. The ballet was pretty amazing...those eerie slow spins are somehow most fascinating.

[@russellb5573]

G!!! Thrilling from start to Finnish! Crackin footage fella!

[@DafyddPhillips]

Many thanks Russel.

[@elcookiemonsteru]

That dude can fly.

[@markfortuin7111]

Mind-blowing!!! 🤯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@SomeNordicMan]

Finns know how to do the Top Gun stunts

[@Ganiscol]

Since the Swiss werent there, the Finns had to represent for the vintage Hornet - and he did well 😊

[@DafyddPhillips]

I must say I do like the Swiss hornet display 🇨🇭✈️👍

[@floatingchimney]

Vintage? Hornet is still the mainstay of several of the world's airforce. Heck even the F-16 (which is a design from the 60s!!!) is not yet considered "vintage".

[@LRRPFco52]

@@floatingchimney The Baby Hornet is sometimes called the Vintage Hornet to distinguish it from the Super Hornets. Neither the YF-16 nor YF-17 were 1960s designs, but early 1970s. The RFP for the LWF program wasn’t even issued until 1972 and the responding design submissions came after that. YF-16 first flew in 1974. I lived through all of the early development of these fighters when we were at Edwards AFB in the 1970s, before we went to West Germany, then came back to Edwards.

[@glaabaglooba]

I think "legacy Hornet" is the preferred term to distinguish from Super Hornets (i.e. Rhinos) 👌

[@yksvaan1690]

Oh, you. 2020 replay? The Swiass Hornet was good. It's just that... it didn't win the Douglas Bader Trophy.

[@chaosbuilder1531]

I can't believe i missed this! I would have loved to be there

[@DafyddPhillips]

It was a treat ✈️👍

[@ibanmayo2]

And that positive G levelling off at the beginning...that's gotta hurt.

[@pamelawilliams5814]

Impressive and just awesome. Shows what we can be capable of when technology is appropriately matched with human piloting skills!

[@Superbonker-np6iz]

6:52 - 7:10 dang it , that was great!!!

[@LittleEvilSuzie]

Hello Fella! ❤

[@Superbonker-np6iz]

@@LittleEvilSuzie Howdy!

[@miskaknapek]

waaaauw! super many thanks! those rolls are.a bit of a signature 'trait' of that pilot :) very cool display. AND VERY WELL FILMED! caught it all in prisine detail :D thank yous!

[@DafyddPhillips]

Many thanks

[@aviation-action]

LOVE IT!!!

[@dgax65]

That was impressive.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Thanks for watching

[@lagershutz3527]

Speachless ! wow

[@DerbyVillan]

i was at RIAT on the Saturday to witness this . have to say it was one of the best displays pf the whole weekend.

[@gezaszilardfarkas7058]

Ohh, wow! Beautiful!

[@DafyddPhillips]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@RustyT47]

Nothing turns like the Classic (legacy) Hornet!

[@douglas_brighty_tan127]

Such an impressive and stunning aerial display of the F/A-18C Hornet performing those jaw dropping moves 😎👍

[@jonasvenfelt8933]

fins have always been good in what they are doing

[@douglas_brighty_tan127]

@@jonasvenfelt8933 ooo absolutely true bro 😁😎

[@P1LOTT1]

Very cool! 😎👌

[@stuartw312000]

Cracking display. If I remember haven't both the Finns and Swiss upgraded their F18's to zero angle of attack making them really agile

[@stuartw312000]

I know that Phil but it is great to see them being thrown about the sky as a combat aircraft should.

[@stuartw312000]

@@phillipbanes5484 agree with that as alot of people do get mixed up. We teach that to our RAFAC cadets during lesson nights

[@glaabaglooba]

Thats the gossip for sure, that the aoa limiters are disabled for Finnish (display) use

[@yksvaan1690]

@@phillipbanes5484 I still didn't get the difference.

[@glaabaglooba]

Drifting in a fighter jet. Brilliant. 👌

[@dangraham106]

So privileged to build these sexy birds. So sad that last of the supers will be rolling off the line next year.

[@vitaliyvyntu4566]

Respect

[@stuartrollings602]

Howdy Big E! Okay that fella is smoking and drifting ! Imagine another fighter with them and it’s a real dogfight! Great shots! 🤠🇺🇸🇨🇱🥃

[@DafyddPhillips]

Many thanks Stuart.

[@19mazze81]

The Finnish defence force have uploaded a video from the cockpit of this display if anyone is interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goXUYoJjZp6lo5I

[@DafyddPhillips]

Thanks for sharing the link. Enjoyed it ✈️👍

[@neohimself]

I love the way the hornet looks different in the air compared to most western fighters. Everything screams not only high-G, but also high-alpha. You don´t see that on most western fighters.

[@duhni4551]

Agreed, it is one sexy jet 😊I am sorry to see them be retired soon, we replace them with F-35. Though F-35 it self is quite an sexy jet also 😀

[@neohimself]

@@duhni4551 from which angle?

[@yksvaan1690]

The high alpha was definitely a feature. That's where they gave up top speed. (Some Finnish pilots miss the Mig21bis that did Mach 2.2 easily and had the delta wing and the pilot's cockpit as an afterthought.) The Hornet was built for US Navy and easy landing on carriers was top priority.

[@yksvaan1690]

Dassault's jets had good top speed and probably good high alpha (looking at the thickness of those delta wings), and the Rafale definitely has good handling. In Finland's fighter competition that resulted in the then PM Marin deciding on 64 F-35, Dassault had a pair of Rafales in Lapland in the winter to show they can do it. Well remembered.

[@hectormonique2166]

Excelente demostacion de dominio y control de este piloto, realmente me sorprendio en un F-18 tan altas cargas G de Manera consecutiva y precisa incluyendo la "patada y palanca" muy bien.

[@8888shooter]

Hi Dafydd, awesome footage, mate!! This F18 is astonishing to watch the way it pushes into the banking, and the manoeuvrability is amazing, fair play to that pilot!👌 Great display!!.. just out of curiosity Dafydd did you manage to get a video of that Replica Messershidt Me262?..Great video as always mate!👍📸..Regards Paul

[@DafyddPhillips]

Hi Paul, thanks for watching and reaching out. I’ve got a video of the me262 which should be ready for upload tomorrow. Hope the purists don’t grill It for being a replica 🤠👍

[@8888shooter]

@DafyddPhillips good morning Dafydd, that sounds great!!..looking forward to seeing your video!👌..as you know I am a keen aircraft/motorsport photographer, and would have gone to RIAT , but due to work commitments, I couldn't make it!😫....but I would love to have photographed this ME 262 because it was something different to the norm. Thanks for the reply mate, looking forward to seeing the video cheersPaul🍻.

[@finnmay]

Awesome.... ❤

[@DafyddPhillips]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@DafyddPhillips]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@beeble2003]

Camera work almost as impressive as the flying. 👍

[@DafyddPhillips]

Many thanks

[@GrumpyGremlin.]

One reason why I like planes and jets is that their flying is the biggest "fuck you" move towards gravity. Especially skilled flyings like these make's it look like the pilot is constantly mocking gravity.

[@sajanagarwal4126]

I do not think a life insurance agent will ever consider these pilot his next customer.

[@rykehuss3435]

Imagine showing this footage to WW2 era pilots. They would think its alien technology

[@miroslavturiak4578]

Well done Dafydd! 👏

[@DafyddPhillips]

Thank you.

[@vaniatoldo8432]

for a few moments I felt in the air Dafydd...thanks 🤩

[@DafyddPhillips]

You’re welcome

[@Tam0de]

And that was just a Hornet, not a Super Hornet. Imagine what this pilot is capable of at the controls of a more advanced fighter.

[@xfiazc07]

Sorry, but it's not more capable, actually less.

[@andrewwilliams8187]

Wowee

[@apuuvah]

Komiaa. Awesome.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Thank you.

[@MrBrysie]

Incredible!

[@MinhNguyen-nl1gm]

Những người phi công lão luyện bay biểu diễn trong rất đẹp mắt rất tuyệt...👍

[@leeannt6053]

♥🔥

[@davidknight6981]

Very nice.l

[@scottydudley5700]

Well done pilot🫡

[@ttopi]

at 4:33 "the cobra"

[@DirtyDovi]

🤘

[@anthossotnya5770]

Yah brilliant. I reckon that hornet was lean too...like bingo fuel on final!

[@MinhNguyen-nl1gm]

Những người phi công con cưng của đất nước, Vì dân quên mình... tuyệt vời 👍

[@swkrueger66]

Can't thank you enough, Dafydd.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Appreciated.

[@GetOutsideYourself]

Welcome to NATO.

[@harris8401]

Kiitos ❤🇫🇮

[@cofa4011]

Similar display as a Rafale, kudos to the pilot o7

[@cosmolfjr7400]

top !!!.. congratulations...

[@DafyddPhillips]

Many thanks!!

[@andywilliams949]

Considering our typhoon is supposed to be more maneoverable the F16 and F18 make it look obsolete.great filming by the way .

[@DafyddPhillips]

Many thanks

[@juusovirtanen7906]

Freedom deliver from Finland 😎

[@UnclePutte]

That's a spicy bicycle.

[@pekka.korhonen2569]

Kapteeni Henri Topparilla on homma hanskassa.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Indeed ✈️👍

[@sampohonkala4195]

Setting an entry level for the new Finnish pilots in NATO.

[@czarcisrom]

As a rule, the army never provides real data about machines, they are usually underestimated. We all know why. And the Hornet, a beautiful machine. I'm not surprised by its capabilities - the name obliges. Hornet.

[@TomasOfTorquemada]

Between 2:00 and 2:20, is it the camera work? The move looks insane. I can't tell against the (British!) cloudy sky. Tell me I'm just seeing more than I should. Or explain it to me. (Not the first air show I've seen, and I understand a bit of aerodynamics.)

[@tokelahti]

Nice shooting! 40x lens? Or longer?

[@rinardman]

Shoot, I could pull that many Gs on my bicycle! When I land after riding off a 200 foot cliff. 😁

[@DafyddPhillips]

🤠

[@LokSimpan]

Can i ask wich camera you use?

[@jackstitt1395]

That was insane.......................

[@DafyddPhillips]

Happy you enjoyed it, thanks for watching

[@christopherhanton6611]

neat by the way FINLAND JUST ORDER 64 f-35 s to replace there f-18s

[@DafyddPhillips]

I doubt they will fly them like this one for a while then

[@pixelnazgul]

The genius of this cobra neck, or whatever it's called, is that plane is not changing center of lift before during and after the turn. Does take a little skill to fly tho.