Arctic Eagles
About the Team
The Arctic Eagles are a Finnish civilian aerobatic team based at Oripää Airfield. Flying a striking mix of classic and modern aerobatic biplanes, they deliver tight four-ship formations, precision opposition passes, dramatic breaks and polished solo sequences.
Founded in 2013 by Raimo Nikkanen, Tapio Pitkänen and Miikka Rautakoura, the team nods to Finnish airshow heritage through a lineage that reaches back to the famed Red Birds led by Seppo Saario. After an initial season performing as “Saario Special,” they adopted the Arctic Eagles name in 2014. In 2016, Jyri Mattila joined to enable regular four-ship routines. Typical display length is around 8–10 minutes, adaptable to duo and trio formats when required.
About the Arctic Eagles’ Aircraft
Fleet & roles. The team flies a biplane-focused lineup: Aviat/Christen Eagle II, Pitts S-1S, Pitts Model 12 and the Ultimate 10-300S. This mix gives them agile solo performance plus excellent formation presence and visibility.
Why biplanes? Classic aerobatic biplanes combine symmetrical airfoils, high control authority and strong structures, supporting rapid roll rates and high energy manoeuvres. Depending on type and configuration, load limits can reach up to ±10 g, ideal for opposition passes and crisp formation figures.
Engines at a glance. Typical installations include Lycoming AEIO-360/540 on the Eagle/Ultimate/Pitts S-1S and a Vedeneyev M14P radial on the Pitts Model 12—providing the blend of torque and throttle response needed for Unlimited-style figures and vertical lines.
Team Facts
Display Aircraft
Eagle II · Pitts S-1S/Model 12 · Ultimate 10-300S
Founded / Rebrand
2013 · Renamed “Arctic Eagles” in 2014
Base
Oripää Airfield, Finland
Team Size
2–4 aircraft (format flexible)
Team History
2013: Formation by Nikkanen, Pitkänen and Rautakoura, flying as Saario Special to honour Red Birds founder Seppo Saario.
2014: Rebranded to Arctic Eagles, establishing their signature biplane four-ship routine featuring formation loops/rolls, opposing passes and dramatic “eagle-claw” breaks.
2016: Jyri Mattila joins, enabling regular four-ship displays. Since then the team has appeared across Finland and on the European circuit, also tailoring duo and trio shows to venue requirements.
Did You Know?
- The team’s lineage traces back to Finland’s classic Red Birds display team.
- They began as “Saario Special” before adopting the Arctic Eagles name.
- Display timing is typically a tight, high-energy 8–10 minutes.
- The fleet is deliberately biplane-centric for agility and showmanship.
- Formats scale from duo to full four-ship depending on event needs.
