VL Pyry

VL Pyry (Finnish language for Blizzard) was a Finnish low-winged two-seater fighter trainer, built by the State Aircraft Factory 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.  VL = Valmet (a state metal factory).
                

VL Pyry tarina

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 March 29, 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 to PY-41.

The first unit to be equipped with Pyrys was the Air Force School in Kauhava, in 1941. About 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 the last flights of the Pyry in Härmälä (Tampere) on 7 September 1962.

The first accident with Pyry occurred in March 1943, when Major E.O. Ehrnrooth, Commander of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 Squadron, fatally overstressed his aircraft.

                
Operators
Finnish Air Force
Specifications (VL Pyry II) 

                

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 7.7 m 
Wingspan: 9.8 m 
Height: 2.55 m 
Wing area: 12.7 m2 
Empty weight: 1,045 kg 
Gross weight: 1,535 kg 
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 340 kW at 2,250 rpm for take-off
Propellers: 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller
Maximum speed: 330 km / h 
Cruise speed: 286 km / h 
Range: 1,050 km 
Service ceiling: 5,600 m 
Rate of climb: 5 m / s 
Time to altitude: 1,000 m - 2 minutes 28 seconds
2,000 m - 5 minutes 7 seconds
3,000 m - 8 minutes 27 seconds
4,000 m - 12 minutes 43 seconds
5,000 m - 20 minutes 10 seconds
Wing loading: 120.87 kg / m2 
Power / mass: 0.201 kW / kg 
Guns: 1x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Browning machine gun with 480 rounds