VL Pyry

what is it?

VL Pyry (Finnish language for blizzard) was a Finnish low-winged, two-seated fighter trainer aircraft, built by the State Aircraft Factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) for use with the Finnish Air Force. The Pyry was in use from 1939 to 1962. The aircraft was a mixed construction of wood, steel, fabric, and duraluminium.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 9.8 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 330 km/htop speed
• range 1,050 kmwithout refuelling
• size 1,535 kgmax take-off weight
• built 41made in total

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 87 years ago, in 1939.
• 🏎️Top speed is 2.5× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 9.8 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🌍Range of 1,050 km: 6× Amsterdam to Brussels.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1939-03-29

introduced

1941

retired

1962

status

retired

number built

41

role

reconnaissance/fighter

origin

🇫🇮 Finland

makers

Valtion lentokonetehdas

engines

1× Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind

crew

2

length

7.7 m

wingspan

9.8 m

height

2.6 m

max take-off weight

1,535 kg

top speed

330 km/h

cruise speed

286 km/h

range

1,050 km

ceiling

5,600 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.