VL Tuisku

Tuisku

Role	Advanced trainer or reconnaissance aircraft
National origin	Finland
Manufacturer	Valtion Lentokonetehdas
Designer	A. Ylinen
First flight	10 January 1934
Introduction	1935
Retired	1949
Primary user	Finnish Air Force
Number built	ca. 31

The VL Tuisku (English: Blizzard) was a Finnish trainer aircraft designed in the 1930s. It was a two-seat, single-engined biplane with a welded steel framework, covered with fabric. 30 were produced for the Finnish Air Force and served from 1935 to 1949.

Design and development

Arvo Ylinen, who was the chief designer at the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas, abbreviated VL) led a project to create a new trainer aircraft for the Finnish Air Force. A prototype was built in 1933 and it was first flown on January 10, 1934 by lieutenant U.E. Mäkelä. Series production began one year later in 1935 - 30 aircraft were built over a period of two years. The name Tuisku means Snowstorm in English.

Operational history

Three different versions of the aircraft were made: a maritime, a pilot training and a reconnaissance training version. The aircraft was in use with all Finnish Air Force squadrons until 1949, bearing the identification codes TU-149 – TU-179.

Aircraft on display

One Tuisku, named "Sokeri-Sirkku" (TU-178) is preserved and on display at the air museum in Vantaa. The fuselage of TU-169 is preserved in the museum's storage facilities. A Tuisku is also on display in front of the old State Aircraft Factory in Tampere.

Variants

Tuisku: Prototype.
Tuisku I: Initial production version.
Tuisku II: Improved version, fitted with a 215-hp (160-kW) Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radial piston engine.
Tuisku/T: The crew training version fitted with armament, including a manually aimed machine gun on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit.^[1]
Tuisku/O: The pilot training fitted with dual controls in front and rear cockpits.^[1]

Operators

Finland: Finnish Air Force

Specifications (Landplane)

VL Tuisku at the air museum at the Helsinki-Vantaa airfield.

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Upper wingspan: 12.10 m (39 ft 8 in)
Lower wingspan: 10.28 m (33 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.26 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 33.65 m² (362.2 sq ft)
Empty weight: 990 kg (2,183 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 1,625 kg (3,583 lb)
Fuel capacity: 225 l (49.49 imp gal; 59.44 US gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 160 kW (215 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 207 km/h (129 mph; 112 kn)
Cruising speed: 170 km/h (106 mph; 92 kn)
Landing speed: 79 km/h (49.1 mph; 42.7 kn)
Range: 1,150 km (715 mi; 621 nmi)
Endurance: 7 hours
Service ceiling: 4,400 m (14,436 ft) service
Rate of climb: 2.80 m/s (551 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 11 minutes 55 seconds to 2,000 m (6,561.7 ft) at 1,350 kg (2,976 lb).

35 minutes 50 seconds to 2,000 m (6,561.7 ft) at 1,350 kg (2,976 lb).

Wing loading: 48.3 kg/m² (9.9 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.0987 kW/kg (0.06 hp/lb)

Armament

Guns: (Tuisku/T crew trainer) 1x fixed forward firing in the forward fuselage synchronised to fire through the propeller plus 1x similar weapon manually aimed and mounted on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to VL Tuisku.

Notes

1 2 3 Grey, John C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard (1938). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 100–101.

Bibliographt

Grey, John C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard (1938). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 100–101.

Valtion lentokonetehdas aircraft

Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas	IVL A.22 Hansa IVL C.24 IVL C.VI.25 Caudron C.60 IVL D.26 Haukka IVL K.1 Kurki

Valtion Lentokonetehdas	Koolhoven FK.31 VL D.27 Haukka VL Sääski VL E.30 Kotka VL F.30 Paarma VL Tuisku VL Viima VL Pyry VL Myrsky VL Humu VL Pyörremyrsky

Valmet	Valmet Vihuri Valmet Tuuli Valmet L-70 Vinka Valmet L-80 Turbo-Vinha Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster Valmet L-90TP Redigo

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