For friends of aviation
Welcome friends of aviation! Here you can find interesting objects at Helsinki Airport and other useful tips.
Plane spotting & viewing terrace
A new viewing terrace for the public will open at Helsinki Airport on 7 June 2012. The terrace has a great view of Runway 1 and 2 as well as of the apron area where the parking lots for airplanes are located. The terrace will be built onto the roof of the office building located near Terminal 2. It is entered via straircase C of Lentäjäntie 1. The terrace is open every day from 7 am to 10 pm. Entry is free.
Passengers can marvel at airplanes and airport activity from almost all cafes, restaurants and waiting areas of the terminal's gate area. The photographing of airplanes from the terminal is allowed and no separate permit is required.
An extremely good vantage point is the lounge above the Fly Inn Restaurant & Deli, where all passengers are welcome, free of charge. The panorama lounge is located above Gate 27.
Outside the airport perimeter fence are numerous locations excellent for spotting planes. For example, the rocks at Tullimies and Ruskeasannantie (near the old cemetery chapel) offer excellent views over Runway 2. Good views over Runway 1 can be found at the northeast end of the runway from Sammonmäki (intersection of Puusepäntie and Kulomäentie). Traffic on Runway 3 can be seen from Katriinantie, just opposite DHL.
The Finnish Aviation Photography association (FAP ry) has produced a map, which shows the best vantage points around the airport.
Junkers A 50 Junior
Near the roof of the terminal flies a Junkers A 50 Junior, designed in Germany in the late 1920s. It ended up in the hands of legendary Finnish aviation record-holder, Väinö Bremer in 1931. He flew the plane not only the length and breadth of Europe, but also made a round trip from Finland to Cape Town, South Africa. The plane is a part of the Finnish Aviation Museum collection. Read more
Location: gate 28 (open to all passengers)
Twin-row radial engine
If you want to find out how the engine of an airplane looks like, head to corridor between terminal 1 and 2. There you can find a Convair twin-row radial engine (Pratti and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp). The 2500-horsepower engine weights 1085 kilograms and belongs to the collections of Finnish Aviation Museum.
Location: the corridor between terminal 1 and 2 (open to all airport visitors)
Aviation exhibition
Helsinki Airport has a permanent aviation exhibition where you can see work of finnish and foreign photographers. Exhibition changes every six months. Read more
Location: Terminal 2, arrivals 2A (open to all airport visitors)
Airport tours
Visitors can get to know Helsinki Airport operations on guided terminal tours. The guided tours are offered for a fee and accommodate groups up to 20 persons. For more information, email opastukset.efhk@finavia.fi.
Visit the Finnish Aviation Museum
The Finnish Aviation Museum is located just outside Helsinki Airport, in approximately 15-minute walking distance from the terminals. Its collection boasts some 80 aircraft and countless other items related to the world of aviation.
At the Finnish Aviation Museum you can also take the controls of an airplane! Visitors can book 30-minute and 1-hour experience packages in the museum simulators.
For more information, visit: www.ilmailumuseo.fi.
