page
4
... print your plane | www.
3DLabPrint
.com
VL Pyörremyrsky
(Wooden Messerschmitt),
History
On 26 November 1942 the Finnish Air Force ordered two Pyörremyrsky prototypes to be built.
The aircraft were to be ready by May 1944. One prototype was later cancelled and only one
aircraft was ever built. The aircraft designation VMT Pyörremyrsky is also sometimes used,
as the factory had been formed into the State Metal Factories (Valtion Metallitehtaat) during
the construction of the aircraft. The Finnish Air Force airplane code letters PM gave the plane
nickname Puu-Mersu (Wooden Messerschmitt), but the plane was an independent design.
The use of wood in the construction of the aircraft was maximized due to the scarcity of metals.
The goal was to create a fighter with similar flight qualities to the German Messerschmitt
Bf 109G. The engine and the propeller were taken from the Bf 109G. The Pyörremyrsky
prototype PM-1 made its first flight on 21 November 1945 at Härmälä, piloted by Esko Halme.
The Pyörremyrsky design was considered quite successful. It could outclimb the Bf 109G-6
and it was very manoeuvrable. It was considered almost ready for mass production. Its only
major problem with the design was found to be the low-quality glue used in the joints.
The aircraft was still in the prototype stage when the war ended and this also meant that the
funds allocated for the project decreased. The Pyörremyrsky prototype was grounded after
only some 30 hours of flying and the programme terminated. The wing construction was
later used in another Finnish aircraft, the all-metal Valmet Vihuri trainer.
