VL Sääski

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VL Sääski II was the first series produced aircraft that had been designed in Finland. The aircraft was built by the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) (abbrevated either V.L. or VL) and was a two-seat, biplane, single-engined trainer constructed out of wood.

The aircraft was designed by Kurt Berger and Asser Järvinen in 1927 and the prototype was financed by own means by a ten person construction team in the A.E. Nyman workshop. The prototype was called Sääski I and it was ready in early spring 1928. The aircraft's civil registration code was "K-SASA" and it was sold to the Finnish Air Force on June 25, 1928. The constructors of the aircraft formed a company called Sääski in 1928, obtained the manufacturing licence from the designers and built four improved Sääski II's for civil use with the State Aircraft Company. Due to lack of orders and the near bankruptcy of the company, the FAF ordered 10 Sääski II aircraft. These were built in 1930.

Two further orders came from the air force and the total production of the aircraft numbered 32 aircraft between 1930 and 1932. The second series (beginning with SÄ-127) differed from the former, by having a greater span. This version was called Sääski IIA. The aircraft was considered to be safe and reliable and it was also equipped with floaters. The floater version was still able to do aerobatics.

[edit] Use in Finland

The Finnish Air Force had 33 Sääski-aircraft between 1928-1943: the 32 series produced aircraft had the identification codes SÄ-113, SÄ-117 - SÄ-126 (version II), SÄ-127 - SÄ-148 (version IIA), the prototype, had the identification code SÄ-95 (version I), it had formerly been known under the civil registration code K-SASA. There were a further five Sääski 's in the civil market. The aircraft was primarily used as a trainer, but also for aerial photographing, machine gun exercises and as a liaison aircraft for the army.

One Sääski IIA is preserved today and on display at the air museum in Vantaa. Another one, the former coast guard aircraft LK 1 is on display at the air museum in Hallinportti.