Stirs a memory about Finland being put under pressure by the USSR to take MiG-15s in the 1950s but they refused. To the Flight archives!
In the 1950's it was actually the other way around; Finland made some tentative moves in 1954 to purchase MiG-15's to appease Soviet Union. When word of this leaked abroad and made it to the headlines, it was seen as proof of Finland sliding further into the Soviet camp. At this point in history, the local politicians still wanted to preserve a neutral image so the idea was scrapped and we purchased Vampire T.55's to supplement the earlier Vampire F.52's (both considered to be only trainers anymore) and later in the 1950's Gnats and Fouga Magisters.
However in 1962 the political climate had changed and politicians were in the delusion that "Finlandization" was a positive thing, so the USSR managed to pressure us to take MiG-21F's (after FAF had already chosen Mirage III; SAAB Draken in its 35A incarnation was seen as promising but unfinished, BAC Lightning was rejected as too short-ranged, F-104G and N-156/F-5A were rejected as politically unfeasible, and MiG-21F was considered to be unsuitable as a whole) - the deal however also included MiG-15UTI's (since a trainer 21 did not exist yet; 21U/UM trainers were however purchased later on).
