VL Pyorremyrsky

VL Pyorremyrsky

Role: Prototype fighter
Manufacturer: Valtion lentokonetehdas
First flight: November 21, 1945
Retired: 1947
Status: Preserved at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland
Primary user: Finnish Air Force
Number built: 1

The VL Pyorremyrsky (Hurricane) was a Finnish fighter, designed by DI Torsti Verkkola at the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) for service with the Finnish Air Force in World War II. The war ended before the type's first flight and only a single prototype was built.

History

Picture - Another view of the VL Pyorremyrsky (behind the pole, next to a Messerschmitt Bf 109) with a Valmet Vihuri in the foreground.

On November 26, 1942 the Finnish Air Force ordered two Pyorremyrsky prototypes to be built. The aircraft were to be ready by May 1944. One prototype was later cancelled and only one aircraft was ever built. The aircraft designation VMT Pyorremyrsky is also sometimes used, as the factory had been formed into the State Metal Factories (Valtion Metalli Tehtaat) during the construction of the aircraft.

The use of wood in the construction of the aircraft was maximised due to the sparseness of metals. The goal was to create a fighter with similar flight qualities to the German Messerschmitt Bf 109G. The engine and the propeller were taken from the Bf 109G. The landing gear was significantly widened in order to address one of the German fighter's most noteworthy shortcomings. This significantly eased ground control, as well as take off and landing.

The Pyorremyrsky prototype PM-1 made its first flight on November 21, 1945 at Hx¤rmx¤lx¤, piloted by Esko Halme. After 25 minutes of flying, a piece from the hood fell off and Halme had to land when fumes from the engine started to enter the cockpit. The pilot was saved by his oxygen mask. The aircraft was to fly only three test flights in Tampere, the third time being a transfer flight to Kuorivesi on January 16, 1946. There it flew an additional 31 test flights, the total flight time being 27 hours by 1947. The aircraft was flown by eight pilots: Esko Halme, Lauri Hx¤mx¤lx¤inen, Erkki Itx¤vuori, Osmo Kauppinen, Lasse Heikinaro, Martti Laitinen, Heikki Keso and Lauri Lautamx¤ki. The last flight lasted only 20 minutes and was made by captain Osmo Kauppinen on July 22, 1947.

The Pyorremyrsky design was considered quite successful. It could outclimb the Bf 109G-6 and it was very manoeuvrable. The only major problem with the design was found to be the low-quality glue used in the joints.

The aircraft was still in the prototype stage when the war ended and this also meant that the funds allocated for the project decreased. The Pyorremyrsky prototype was grounded after only some 30 hours of flying and the programme terminated as no funds were available for the purchase of new aircraft for the Finnish Air Force and sufficient Bf 109Gs remained in service to equip the fighter force that was permitted under the Armistice terms. The PM-1 was removed from FAF lists on April 1, 1953. The wing construction was later used in another Finnish aircraft, the Valmet Vihuri trainer.

The PM-1 prototype can today be seen at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland in Tikkakoski.

Specifications (VL Pyorremyrsky)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 9.13 m (29 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 10.38 m (34 ft 1 in)
Height: 3.89 m (12 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 19.00 m² (204.5 ft²)
Max takeoff weight: 3,310 kg (7,300 lb)
Powerplant: 1x— Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 V-12, 1,100 kW (1,475 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 620 km/h (385 mi/h)
Service ceiling: 11,250 m (36,900 ft)
Rate of climb: 18.5 m/s (3,640 ft/min)

Armament

Guns: 2x— 12.7 mm LKK/42 machine guns

Bibliography

Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume One. London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers) Ltd., 1960. ISBN 0-356-01445-2.

VL Pyorremyrsky Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia