VL Pyry

VL Pyry (Finnish language for blizzard) was a Finnish low-winged, two-seated fighter trainer aircraft, built by the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) for use with the Finnish Air Force. The Pyry was in use from 1939 to 1962. The aircraft was a mixed construction of wood, steel, fabric, and duraluminium.

Pyry
VL Pyry at the Finnish Aviation Museum
Role Reconnaissance/fighter
Manufacturer Valtion lentokonetehdas
First flight 29 March 1939
Introduction 1941
Retired 7 September 1962
Status Retired
Primary user Finnish Air Force
Number built 41

History

The Finnish Air Force ordered a prototype of the aircraft in 1937. It was to be called VL Pyry I and carried the identification number PY-1.

The chief designer was Arvo Ylinen, and the other persons of the design team were Martti Vainio, Torsti Verkkola, and Edward Wegelius.

The first flight was made on 29 March 1939 by the factory test pilot. The FAF ordered 40 aircraft in May and the aircraft were quickly constructed and were ready in the spring of 1941. These were designated VL Pyry II and their identification numbers ran from PY-2 - PY-41.

Operational history

The first unit to be equipped with Pyrys was the Air Force School in Kauhava, in 1941. Around 700 pilots were trained in the aircraft and the type accumulated over 56,000 flying hours over a service life of 20 years. PY-1 and PY-27 made last flights of the Pyry in Härmälä on 7 September 1962.

There were 28 accidents of VL Pyry. All together 27 pilots died. The first accident was on 15 June 1941 in Hyvinkää. Pilot Kauno Osmo Meriluoto died. [1]

Operators
 Finland
Finnish Air Force

Specifications (VL Pyry II)

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 7.7 m (25 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 12.7 m2 (137 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,045 kg (2,304 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,535 kg (3,384 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 340 kW (450 hp) at 2,250 rpm for take-off
  • Propellers: 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 286 km/h (178 mph, 154 kn)
  • Range: 1,050 km (650 mi, 570 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,600 m (18,400 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 5 m/s (980 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) - 2 minutes 28 seconds
    2,000 m (6,600 ft) - 5 minutes 7 seconds
    3,000 m (9,800 ft) - 8 minutes 27 seconds
    4,000 m (13,000 ft) - 12 minutes 43 seconds
    5,000 m (16,000 ft) - 20 minutes 10 seconds
  • Wing loading: 120.87 kg/m2 (24.76 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.201 kW/kg (0.068 hp/lb)

Armament

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References
  1. “Kohtalokkaat lennot 1939-1944” (Fateful Flights) by Jaakko Hyvönen. Publisher: Kustantaja Apali Oy, 2001, ISBN 951-9445-34-X
  2. "VL Pyry". menstream.pl (in Polish). Warsaw. Retrieved 22 November 2014.

Media related to VL Pyry at Wikimedia Commons

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