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
Specifications (Landplane)
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
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to VL Tuisku. |
Notes
- 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.