VL Tuisku

The VL Tuisku was a Finnish trainer aircraft designed in the 1930s. It was a two-seat, single-engined biplane with a welded steel framework, covered with fabric. 30 were produced for the Finnish Air Force and served from 1935 to 1949.

Design and development
Arvo Ylinen, who was the chief designer at the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas, abbreviated VL) 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. The name Tuisku means Snowstorm in English.

Operational history
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, bearing the identification codes TU-149 – TU-179.

Aircraft on display
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.

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.
 * Tuisku/T:The crew training version fitted with armament, including a manually aimed machine gun on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit.
 * Tuisku/O:The pilot training fitted with dual controls in front anfd rear cockpits.

Operators

 * 🇫🇮:Finnish Air Force