VL Myrsky (English: Storm) was a Finnish World War II fighter, designed by the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) for the Finnish Air Force. The models of the aircraft were Myrsky I, Myrsky II, and Myrsky III.Due to difficulties obtaining duraluminium, the wings were made out of plywood and the fuselage was metal structure with fabric or plywood coating. The planned Bristol Taurus III engine was not available due to war, so a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 (civil Twin Wasp) was chosen. Availability of this engine was also problematic, so an R-1830-S3C3-G was used for the first prototype and less-powerful SC3-Gs for later prototypes and production fighters. These were bought from German war booty stocks.
The first Myrsky I prototype flew on 23 December 1941. The 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 structural strength during high speed tests. All three prototypes were destroyed during test flights; two test pilots died, one was seriously injured.
Series production started after German deliveries of Messerschmitt Bf 109 had begun in 1943. The series production version was called Myrsky II. 47 Myrsky IIs were built and together with the Myrsky I version the production amounted to 51 in all. Although the aircraft met the specifications set for it, it did not fulfill all expectations due to structural problems.
The Myrsky III was ordered in spring 1943, but none were built.General characteristicsCrew: One
Length: 8.35 m (27 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 18.00 m² (193.7 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,485 kg (5,480 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,213 kg (7,080 lbs)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G Twin Wasp 14-cyl., 749 kW (1,065 hp)
PerformanceMaximum speed: 535 km/h
Range: 311 miles (500 Km)
Service ceiling: 9,500 m ()
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (50 ft/s)
Power/mass: 3.0 kg/hp (6.6 lb/hp)
Armament4× 12,7 mm LKK/42 machine guns
2× 100 kg bombs
CockpitMain instrument panel1. Artificial horizon
2. Turn and bank (V, KAARTAA, O, KALLISTUU -
L (left), TURN, R (right), BANK3. Compass
4. Speed (NOPEUS, KM/T -
SPEED, KM/H)
5. Altitude and precise altitude (KORKEUS, KM -
ALTITUDE, KM)
6. Rate of climb (NOUSEE, YLÖS, LASKEE, ALAS -
CLIMBS, UP, SINKS, DOWN)
7. Clock (can't read the text)
8. RPM (k/m/n, x100 -
r/p/m, x100)
9. Boost pressure (AHTOPAINE, ? -
BOOST PRESSURE, ?)
10. Fuel and oil pressure (BENS PAINE, ÖLJYN-PAINE -
GAS (gasoline) PRESSURE, OIL PRESSURE11. Oil temperature (ÖLJYNLÄMPÖ °C,
OIL TEMPERATURE °C12. Cylinder temperature (C°, SYLINTERIN LÄMPÖ -
CYLINDER TEMPERATURE13. Fuel quantity (POLTTOAINE, LITR, VAAKALENTO -
FUEL, LITR, LEVEL FLIGHT14. Undercarriage position (YLH(äällä), ALH(aalla) -
UP, DOWN15. Undercarriage warning lamp (text is LASKUTELINE HÄLYYTYS -
UNDERCARRIAGE WARNING)
16. Instrument panel light
17. Frame of the compass deviation table (text on the left is: KK-KAMERA LIITIN -
MG (machine gun) CAMERA CONNECTOR)
18. Gunsight brightness adjustment (KIRKASTAA -
BRIGHTEN19. Fuel warning lamp (text is LAMPPU SYTTYY KUN SÄILIÖSSÄ ON POLTTOAINETTA JÄLJELLÄ 75 LITRAA -
LAMP LIGHTS WHEN 75 LITRES OF FUEL LEFT IN TANKMain switch panel1. KOJETAULU VALOT, KIRK, KATK. -
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, BRIGHTEN, SWITCH2. LATAA, PAINA -
LOAD, PRESS3. APUKOJETAULU VALOT, KIRK, KATK. -
SECONDARY INSTRUMENT PANEL, BRIGHTEN, SWITCH4. KYTKETÄÄN AINOASTAAN AMMUNNAN AJAKSI -
ONLY CONNECT WHEN FIRING5. circuit diagram - AKKU, KÄYNN., MAA-AKKU, KYTKIN, MAA-AKKU -
BATTERY, START, GROUND BATTERY, SWITCH, GROUND BATTERY6. POMMILAUK PÄÄKYTKIN -
BOMB RELEASE MAIN SWITCH7. KONEKIVÄÄRIT, ULOIMMAT KK:T, LUKONP. TAHD., SISEMMÄT KK:T, LUKONP. TAHD., HUOM, AMMUTTAESSA OVAT SEKÄ LUKONP. ETTÄ TAHD. KYTK. OLTAVA KYTKETTYINÄ -
MACHINE GUNS, OUTER MGs, LOCK HEAD SYNCHRONIZER, INNER MGs, LOCK HEAD SYNCHRONIZER, CAUTION, WHEN FIRING BOTH LOCK HEAD AND SYNCHRONIZER SWITCHES MUST BE CONNECTED8. LASKUTEL. VALOT -
UNDERCARRIAGE LIGHTS9. LENTO VALOT -
FLYING LIGHTS (navigation lights)10. LÄMPÖ PUKU, KIDUS-SÄÄTÖ -
WARM SUIT, (RADIATOR) FLAP CONTROL11. KK-KAMERAN LÄMMITYS -
MG CAMERA WARMING12. VERKOSTON ?KOKSIAALIMAA-AKKULLA?, ?, ?, KÄYNNISTYS MAA-AKKULLA, KONEEN AKKU KYTKETTYNÄ -
WITH (POWER) GRIDS ?COAXIAL GROUND BATTERY?, ?, ?, WITH GROUND BATTERY, PLANE'S BATTERY CONNECTED
13. PITOT PUTKI -
PITOT TUBE14. MITTARIT -
INSTRUMENTS15. KATKAISE - PAINA PUNAISTA NAPPIA -
DISCONNECT - PRESS RED BUTTON16. KÄYTETÄÄN SULAKKEINA - PIDETÄÄN AINA KYTKETTYNÄ -
USED AS FUSES - ALWAYS KEEP CONNECTED17. AKKU -
BATTERY18. GENER. -
GENERATOR19. LASKUTEL MOOTTORI -
UNDERCARRIAGE MOTOR20. LASKUTEL RELEET -
UNDERCARRIAGE RELAYS21. KK KAMERA LAUK -
MG CAMERA TRIGGER22. SYTYTYS KÄYNN. -
IGNITION START23. KOJETAULU VALOT -
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS24. RADIO
25. KYTKE - PAINA MUSTAA NAPPIA -
CONNECT - PRESS BLACK BUTTONSecondary instrument panel (right)1. (radiator) flaps switch (KIINNI, AUKI, KIDUSTENSÄÄTÖ -
CLOSED, OPEN, FLAPS ADJUSTMENT2. Instrument panel flight
3. Compressed air tap (PUD. SÄIL, PAINEILMAHANA -
DROP TANK, COMPRESSED AIR TAP4. Ammo counter (OIKEA SISIMM. KK, OIKEA ULOMM. KK -
RIGHT INNER MG, RIGHT OUTER MG5. Flow indicator (PUD. SÄILIÖIDEN POLTTOAINEEN VIRT. OSOITTAJA -
DROP TANKS FUEL FLOW INDICATOR6. Starting switch (KÄYNNISTIN PAINA 5-10 SEK. JA VEDÄ -
STARTER PRESS 5-10 SEC. AND PULL7. Mixture temperature (SEOKSEN LÄMPÖ)
8. Primer pump (RYYPYTYSPUMPPU)
Bomb equipment in cockpit1. Dropping selector (VASEN POMMI, MOLEMMAT POMMIT, POMMIN PUDOTTUA LAMPPU SAMMUU -
LEFT BOMB, BOTH BOMBS, LAMP GOES OFF WHEN BOMB IS DROPPED2. Mechanical release handle (MEKAANINEN LAUKAISIN MOLEMMAT PUTOAVAT VEDÄ -
MECHANICAL RELEASE BOTH DROPS PULL3. Indicator lamps
4. Secure selector (VARMIST, POMMIT PUTOAVAT, ? -
SECURE, BOMBS DROP, ?5. Main switch
VL Pyörremysky cockpit (not a same plane, but likely very similar.
Väisälä THm/44kk reflector sight (Väisälä tähtäin malli 44 konekivääri, sight model 44 machine gun)
Reticle