Valmet Tuuli

Infobox Aircraft
name=Valmet Tuuli


caption=
type=Trainer
manufacturer=Valmet
designer=
first flight= 26 September 1951
introduced=
retired=
status=
primary user=Finnish Air Force
more users=
produced=
number built=one each Tuuli I, II, III
program cost=
unit cost=
developed from=
variants with their own articles=The Valmet Tuuli was a trainer aircraft, developed for the Finnish Air Force by the State Aircraft Factory ("Valtion lentokonetehdas", VL). The aircraft was to be produced in 3 different versions. The last version, Tuuli III was redesigned from scratch, and is basically an entirely different aircraft.

History

The design work on the aircraft was initiated in February 1941 under the leadership of the chief engineer Martti Vainio. The aircraft was a low-winged, tandem-seated trainer aircraft. The Finnish Air Force ordered a prototype, Tuuli I, in August 1942. The design work and its construction was ended in the spring of 1944, when the aircraft manufacturer was forced to put all its efforts in repairing the front-line aircraft. The Tuuli I was never finished.

In 1944 VL became part of the company "Valtion metallitehtaita" (Valmet) and therefore, this prototype became Valmet's first aircraft. Valmet wanted to transform weapons factories, which were currently focused on war-reparations to the Soviet Union, into a productive and profitable industry. Artillery factories were transformed into paper machine factories, etc. The leaders of the aircraft factory became professors of the Helsinki Technical University and directors of VTT. At this stage, the design of aircraft in Finland was cooled down and the quality suffered.

The design of the Tuuli II prototype began in September 1945 and was led by Torolf Eklund. The prototype was ready in the autumn of 1948. After this, the development stopped for a couple of years. The air force funded the prototype, and promised an order if it filled their requirements. The requirements had changed, and now the aircraft had to have side-by-side seating. The maiden flight with the Tuuli II was on September 26 1951. Due to its low wing loading, its turning maneuvers was bad - this was from the military's view a serious deficiency. The aircraft was destroyed on October 26 1951. The accident happened after the control stick had broken off, due to a forgotten stage of rivetting.

A third prototype, the Tuuli III was designed in 1957-59, after the FAF had announced the requirement of a new trainer aircraft. However, the Tuuli III lost the competition to the Swedish Saab 91 Safir, which was much cheaper. The Tuuli III was to be the last military aircraft designed in Finland until the Valmet L-70 Vinka in the 1970s.

Versions

*Valmet Tuuli I - Prototype trainer aircraft, one built
*Valmet Tuuli II - Prototype trainer aircraft (1951), one built.
*Valmet Tuuli III - Prototype trainer aircraft (1957-1959), one built.

pecifications (Valmet Tuuli II)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Fact|date=February 2007

crew=2
capacity=
length main=7.86 m
length alt=25 ft 9 in
span main=10.5 m
span alt=34 ft 5 in
height main=2.2 m
height alt=7 ft 3 in
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=1050 kg
max takeoff weight alt=2,315 lb
more general=

engine (prop)=Siemens-Halske Sh 14A
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=112 kW
power alt=150 hp
power original=

max speed main=190 km/h
max speed alt=103 knots, 118 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
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armament=

avionics=

References

*Heinonen, Timo: "Thulinista Hornetiin - 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita", Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo, 1992, ISBN 951-95688-2-4 fi icon