VL Viima, constructed by the State Aircraft Factory ( or ''VL'') is a Finnish two-seat, biplane trainer used by the

Finnish Air Force The Finnish Air Force (FAF or FiAF; ; ) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions. The Finnish Air ...

from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. After military service, several were released into civil use.

Design

The Viima II is a single engined, tandem seater biplane. ''Viima'' means ''Gale'' in English. Post war, VL was eventually absorbed into

Valmet Valmet Oyj, a Finnish company, is a developer and supplier of process technologies, automation systems and services for the pulp, paper, energy industries. Flow control serves a wider base of process industries. History 1999–2012 Valmet ...

, so the aircraft is often referred to as the Valmet Viima. It has unequal span, staggered single bay wings built around two box spars with plywood ribs. The interplane struts are N-shaped. The wings are fabric covered and carry four ailerons in all; the upper and lower ailerons are externally linked. The fuselage and tail unit are constructed of chrome-molybdenum steel and are fabric covered. The tailplane, mounted on top of the fuselage, is wire braced to the small triangular fin. Both the fin and the tailplane are adjustable when on ground. The deep, wide chord rudder reaches to the bottom of the fuselage between the divided elevators. The rudder carries a trim tab and the elevators a Flettner flap. The cockpits are close together, the forward one is at mid-chord with a cut-out in the upper wing to enhance visibility. Dual controls are fitted. The undercarriage is of the split axle type, with the faired main legs attached to the fuselage forward of the wings and braced by rearward struts. It uses low pressure tyres and rubber in compression springing. A tailwheel is fitted. The Viima is powered by an uncowled Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine. All Viimas of the Finnish Air Force were fitted with a framed cockpit in 1950s.

Operational history

24 Viimas served with the Finnish Air Force until the early 1960s. Most were then sold to civilian use, with 14 appearing on the Finnish aircraft register.

Versions

Viima I was a prototype aircraft, of which two aircraft were made. The third Viima I was the first aircraft of the series production version. Viima II was the series production version of the trainer aircraft. 20 aircraft were built for the FAF. Another two were delivered to the Finnish Air Defence Guild. Viima IIB was powered by a de Havilland Gipsy Major.

Operators

; *

Survivors

There are two Viimas on display in Finland, one in Finnish Aviation Museum in

Vantaa Vantaa (; , ) is a city in Finland. It is located to the north of the capital, Helsinki, in southern Uusimaa. The population of Vantaa is approximately . It is the most populous municipality in Finland. Vantaa is part of the Helsinki Metropoli ...

(VI-23/OH-VII) and second one in Härmälä,

Tampere Tampere is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Pirkanmaa. It is located in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Tampere is approximately , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately . It is the most populous mu ...

(VI-1). One airworthy Finnish Viima was sold first to England and from there to Belgium in the autumn of 2006. Two Viimas are listed on a national register as airworthy as of 1 Jan 2014, OH-VIF (VI-17) and D-EVVI (VI-3) in Finland and Germany, respectively. D-EVVI was offered for sale at airport "ETSA" in December 2014 through planecheck.com June 2015 .D-EVVI (VI-3) now re-registered and flying in Finland as OH-VIG.

Specifications (VL Viima II)

Notes

References

* * * {{Valtion lentokonetehdas aircraft Biplanes 1930s Finnish military aircraft Trainer aircraft