VL Humu

The VL Humu is a Finnish fighter aircraft, designed by Valtion lentokonetehdas in 1944, and based on the American Brewster F2A Buffalo.

"Humu" redirects here. For the Congolese ethnic group, see Amba people.
Humu
The sole VL Humu at Central Finland Aviation museum.
Role Fighter aircraft
National origin Finland
Manufacturer VL
First flight 8 August 1944
Status Cancelled
Primary user Finnish Air Force
Number built 1
Developed from Brewster F2A Buffalo

Design and development

The Humu was largely constructed out of wood, due to scarcity of metals, but the frame was made from steel and its design followed closely that of the Brewster.

Because of the small numbers of Brewsters in service (44) in the Finnish Air Force, the Finns wanted to see if they could design a fighter based on the Brewster design. The aircraft designers Torsti Verkkola, Arvo Ylinen and Martti Vainio were called upon to lead the project. The Finnish Air Force ordered 90 Humus; however, production was stopped in 1944, when only one aircraft had been produced, serial no. HM-671. The first flight took place on 8 August 1944, HM-671 flying for a total of 19 hours and 50 minutes. The aircraft was 250 kg (551 lb) heavier than calculated, its engine was underpowered, and the aircraft was not of the standard expected from a fighter aircraft of 1944.

VL Humu was still decent for a reconnaissance aeroplane, and together with VL Myrsky, it would have replaced the obsolete biplanes of the reconnaissance squadrons. The end of the Continuation War in September 1944, however, put the end to the project.

Operators
 Finland

Aircraft on display

The sole Humu, HM-671, was placed in storage in 1945. It was restored between 1972 and 1974 and is displayed at the Central Finland Aviation museum.[1]

Specifications (VL Humu)

Data from

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 8.03 m (26 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.67 m (35 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 3.66 m (12 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 19.4 m2 (209 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: NACA 23018; tip: NACA 23009[2]
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,895 kg (6,382 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Shvetsov M-63 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 746 kW (1,000 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 430 km/h (270 mph, 230 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 13.3 m/s (2,620 ft/min)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine guns
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See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References
  1. Dann, Richard S. and Steve Ginter, Brewster F2A Buffalo and Export Variants, Simi Valley, CA: Ginter Publications, 2017
  2. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Further reading
  • Raunio, Jukka (1993). Lentäjän näkökulma 2. J. Raunio. ISBN 951-96866-0-6.
  • Raunio, Jukka (2007). Valtion Lentokonetehtaan historia. Osa 2: Tampereella ja sodissa 1933-1944. Jukka Raunio. ISBN 978-951-96866-8-4.
  • Keskinen, Kalevi; Niska, Klaus; Stenman, Kari; Geust, Carl-Fredrik (1981). Suomen museolentokoneet. Tietoteos. ISBN 951-9035-60-5.
  • Manninen, Pentti (1998). "Puusiipi-Brewster", Part 1, Suomen Ilmailuhistoriallinen Lehti, 4/1998. pp. 10–14. ISSN 1237-2315.
  • Manninen, Pentti (1999). "Puusiipi-Brewster", Part 2, Suomen Ilmailuhistoriallinen Lehti, 1/1999. pp. 14–17.
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