VL Myrsky

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A VL Myrsky fighter.

VL Myrsky was a Finnish World War II fighter, designed by the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) for the Finnish Air Force. The different versions of the aircraft were called Myrsky I, Myrsky II, and Myrsky III.

1 History
2 Operational history
3 Operators
4 Specifications (VL Myrsky)

[edit] History

The decision to start developing a new fighter for the Finnish Air Force was based on experience gained before the Winter War: in the "arms race" leading up to a war, it can be difficult for smaller nations to purchase top-of-the-range fighters without a significant political cost.

The design was led by DI Torsti Verkkola and the technical leader Erik Wegelius. Due to difficulties obtaining duraluminium, the wings were made out of plywood and the fuselage in metal. The engines were Swedish-made licence-built Pratt & Whitney engines. The first Myrsky I prototype was fully functional, but too heavy. After some modifications they soon had three new prototype aircraft. The test flights showed some problems with the sturctural strength during high speed tests. All three prototypes were destoyed during test flights, and two test pilots died, one was seriously injured.

The series production started after German deliveries of Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters had begun in 1942. The series production version was called Myrsky II. 47 Myrsky II fighters were built and together with the Myrsky I version the production amounted to 50 fighters. The aircraft was a disappointment and did not fulfill expectations. Myrsky was considered to be 3-4 years after its time as a fighter. The type was never used as a fighter in Finnish service; instead, it was used as a reconnaissance aircraft.

An improved version, the Myrsky III was in the production stage when the Allied Control Commission stopped the project. At that time 10 aircraft had already been produced.

[edit] Operational history

Fifteen Myrsky fighters flew 68 missions on September 19, 1943 and between August 9 1944-September 3, 1944. During one mission they met Soviet Yak-7 fighters, but the fight ended without losses for either side. During two other missions, Finnish Myrsky fighters fired upon two Soviet fighters. Six Myrsky aircraft took part in a bombing mission on September 3, 1944.

During the Lapland War, six Myrsky fighters flew 13 missions between March 2 and March 23, 1944 - all were reconnaissance missions. The wooden construction proved problematic in this theatre, as the onset of the Autumn rain caused the wood to swell and joints to open.