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

VL Tuisku was a Finnish trainer aircraft designed in the 1930s. It had a welded steel framework, covered with fabric.

Arvo Ylinen, who was the chief designer at the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) 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 and they were given the identification codes TU-149 – TU-179.

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.

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.

Vl Tuisku in flight.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Operators

 Finland

Finnish Air Force

[edit] Specifications (VL Tuisku)

Data from^{[citation needed]}

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 12.10 m (39 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
• Height: ()
• Max takeoff weight: 1,625 kg (3,580 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC radial engine, 160 kW (215 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 200 km/h (124 mi/h)
• Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,840 ft)

[edit] Notes and References

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