VL Tuisku

The VL Tuisku (English: Blizzard or Snowstorm) 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.

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

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.

Operational history

Three different versions of the aircraft were made: a maritime, a pilot training and a reconnaissance training version. Examples were attached to all Finnish Air Force squadrons until 1949, with the identification codes TU-149 to 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)
  • Cruise speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
  • Landing speed: 79 km/h (49.1 mph; 42.7 kn)
  • Range: 1,150 km (710 mi, 620 nmi)
  • Endurance: 7 hours
  • Service ceiling: 4,400 m (14,400 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

See also

Related lists

References

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

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