#0643
VL Kotka
first flew 1930· two-seater patrol biplane
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2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. V.L. E.30 Kotka (35198310650): Valtion Lentokonetehtaan kokoelma / Suomen Ilmailumuseon kuva-arkisto· Public domain
- 2. VL Kotka: SA-kuva· Public domain
what is it?
VL Kotka ("Eagle") was a Finnish two-seat, biplane maritime patrol aircraft, designed and built by the Valtion lentokonetehdas or VL ("State Aircraft Factory"). It was meant as a cheaper replacement (compared to the Blackburn Ripon) for the outdated IVL A.22 Hansas that were in service with the Finnish Air Force. The prototype made its first flight on September 30, 1930.
How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 12.7 m wingspan
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 96 years ago, in 1930.
- Top speed is 1.7× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- Wingspan of 12.7 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1930-10-01
- introduced
- 1930
- retired
- 1945
- status
- retired
- number built
- 6
- role
- two-seater patrol biplane
- makers
- Valtion lentokonetehdas
- engines
- 1× Wright R-1820-E Cyclone
- length
- 10.3 m
- wingspan
- 12.7 m
- height
- 3.8 m
- max take-off weight
- 2,380 kg
- top speed
- 225 km/h
- range
- 650 km
- ceiling
- 5,600 m
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q624013, Wikipedia: VL Kotka (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.