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 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 its 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.

Operators

Finland

Finnish Air Force

Specifications (Landplane)

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

Data from Grey 1972, p. 101c

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)
• Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC 7-cylinder radial aircooled, 160 kW (215 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 207 km/h (129 mph; 112 kn)
• Cruising speed: 170 km/h (110 mph; 92 kn)
• Range: 1,150 km (715 mi; 621 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,400 m (14,436 ft) service
• Rate of climb: 2.80 m/s (551 ft/min) to 2,000 m (6,100 ft with weight 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
• Wing loading: 48.3 kg/m² (9.9 lb/sq ft)

Notes and references

• Grey, C.G. (1972). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5734-4.