VL Pyörremyrsky
Contents
Description
The VL Pyörremyrsky is a premium gift rank III Swedish fighter with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB), 4.3 (RB), and 4.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.93 "Shark Attack". Though the Pyörremyrsky may seem similar to the Bf 109 series of German fighters, it is in fact a completely domestic Finnish design.
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 596 | 580 | 11000 | 19.0 | 19.6 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 390 |
| Upgraded | 647 | 620 | 17.1 | 18.0 | 23.9 | 18.5 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 790 | 360 | 437 | 408 | 260 | ~14 | ~7 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 450 | < 390 | < 450 | > 715 |
Survivability and armour
With this aircraft, you will need to strike hard and strike fast. You'll have to since the Pyörremyrsky only has one spar supporting each wing making it easy to rip them off or be blown off by cannon fire. Additionally, this aircraft doesn't have any protective glass in front of the pilot. Without the bulletproof glass, the pilot is extremely vulnerable when going into a head-on fight or when tailing a bomber trying to get a shot. Not only is the pilot put at risk when doing this, but also both the oil and liquid cooling system have a large chance of being destroyed since it does not have any protection.
- 10 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
- 10 mm Steel - Behind pilot
- Self-sealing fuel tank (1 behind pilot)
Modifications and economy
2 × 70 / 170 / 340 % 2 × 148 / 148 / 148 % | Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Offensive armament
The VL Pyörremyrsky is armed with:
- 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, nose-mounted (150 rpg)
- 2 x 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
Suspended armament
The VL Pyörremyrsky can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 4 x 50 kg Model 1938 bombs (200 kg total)
- 4 x 100 kg Model 1938 bombs (400 kg total)
Usage in battles
The Swedish planes have good fame in the intercepting playstyle/role. That is a shared trait on this Finnish-made fighter.
The players shall recognise this is not a great fighter to low-level pursuits where really great top speed is crucial. But instead, use this plane for medium-altitude engagements. Where an altitude advantage allows the Pyörremyrsky to increase the speed and surprise its enemies with a proper turn rate. The plane does not look like a dogfighter, but it can also defend itself as one.
The Pyörremyrsky climbs really good and maintains adequate speed up to approximately 5000m, this is more than enough speed to initiate combat actions, albeit Finnish pilots can continue the climb to allow themselves more combat choices. Oppositely, they can remain below the 5000m and work together with their Swedish brothers to down all the enemy team; the Pyörremyrsky often acting as the decoy.
The intercepting role varies somewhat nonetheless. Pyörremyrsky does not offer great frontal protection, so engaging bombers with good turret protection is not the best idea. Specially bombers like the mighty Soviet Pe-8 or the German He 219 A-7 which are loaded with high-calibre weapons able to harm your pilot with a direct shot or break the light Pyörremyrsky apart. The rather reserved ammo count also limits the input damage against bombers. Because of that same reason, head-on attacks are ill-advised, only should be attempted versus planes with a good turn rate and light airframe. Usually the Japanese Zeros, The British Spitfires or the Italian C.205s. Though, there are exceptions where the player must know how to engage a specific enemy. When to dive away or when to engage in a turning duel.
Ground realistic battles
The Pyörremyrsky is not the fastest plane in here. Therefore players need to consider 2 main roles if they seek good rewards in the Pyörremyrsky flying over the tank's battlefield.
Interception role
In this role, the Pyörremyrsky will be unloaded with any bombs. The pilot will proceed to climb aside the central combat zone. Remember, Pyörremyrsky is not the only bird in the sky so watch for any other. The intention is to earn an altitude advantage to engage from above and behind. Speed might not be the best but it won't be the defining factor if the player strikes first and strikes precisely. Many players will often not realize your presence until their plane starts catching fire.
Using stealth ammo in both 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine guns allow leading the shot while the tracers are not visible at all. This will help during the first attempts of this tactic. Players must stay alert so they don't end up attacked by the rear. Remember the good turn rate of the Pyörremyrsky and resort to defensive manoeuvres over allied anti-air territory. The plane covers very well the pilot against rear attacks but the same cannot be said of the vulnerable airframe. Don't hesitate to call for support!
Generally, the target planes are attackers with low top speed or fighters with bombs, so the Pyörremyrsky should have no trouble downing them with a surprise advantage.
Close air support
This role is somewhat trickier. Here the Pyörremyrsky performs as a light strike fighter armed with the 4x 100kg bombs. These bombs are not that powerful in explosive mass so pilots should really commit during bombing runs to accurately destroy medium or even heavy tanks. Release the bombs and then proceed to cover with the terrain and fend off enemy aviation, or return to base to equip more bombs.
Crew exposed vehicles or light tanks can also be destroyed with the heavy machine guns or cannons. But oftentimes, it might be the best not to remain around for too long since anti-air fire or other planes will catch up on the Pyörremyrsky and bring it down quickly.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Not controllable | Controllable Auto control available |
Controllable Auto control available |
Controllable Auto control available |
Separate | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Very good climb rate, can outclimb even the Bf 109 G-2 to common combat altitude
- Very effective armament, devastating German MG 151/20 and two 12.7 mm LKk/42
- The two LKk/42s are very effective in pilot sniping
- The LKk/42s can load entirely AP ammunition that can pen 26 mm of armour
- Good turn
- Decent flaps; allow for decreased turn rate
- Barely any overheating
Cons:
- Not very fast; Spitfire and Bf 109 series out-speed it
- Limited ammunition supply
- Wings can be shot easily (only one spar per wing)
History
Pyörremyrsky, meaning hurricane, tornado or whirlwind in Finnish (pyörre > vortex/whirl, myrsky > storm), was the name of a Finnish fighter design at the end of WWII. Designed by Torsti Rafael Verkkola (1909-1977), the chief designer of Valtion lentokonetehdas (VL or 'State Aircraft Factory') and the designer of the previous Myrsky fighter and the Pyry trainer, the Pyörremyrsky was conceived as a domestic equivalent to the Messerschmitt Bf 109G.
Design
Conceptually, the Pyörremyrsky was very similar to the Bf 109G: it was powered by the same Daimler Benz DB605 engine and had a similar armament, consisting of one hub-mounted 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon and two 12.7 mm hood-mounted machine guns. However, the design was optimized for domestic production, making maximum use of wooden sub-assemblies, and crucially, unlike the Bf 109, it used a wing-mounted landing gear with a wide ground track, giving the design better handling on the ground.
Testing
Design and construction of the Pyörremyrsky met significant delays, and while the original tender called for a prototype to be ready in May 1944, it wasn't until 21 November 1945 that the prototype was ready and made its first flight.
The prototype was designated PM-1. PM being its intended type designation and 1 being its airframe number. The designation PM is an abbreviation of Pyörremyrsky.
Flight trials of the Pyörremyrsky revealed some minor issues, but other than that, the design was very promising. Performance of the Pyörremyrsky was very similar to that of the Bf 109G, but it had a superior climbing speed and proved to be very agile. One major worry, however, was the quality of the glue used to bind the wooden components.
Fate
The end of the War saw Finland's military subjected to severe restrictions under the Moscow Armistice, which also called for a reduction of its forces. This limited the air force to only 60 fighter aircraft. As a result, the Pyörremyrsky became surplus before it even reached production as Finland chose to retain the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G as its primary fighter for economical reasons. The last of the Finnish Bf 109 Gs bowed out of service on March 13th 1954. The sole completed prototype of the Pyörremyrsky was put into storage after its last flight on July 22nd 1947, and stricken from the Finnish Air Force's inventory on April 1st 1953. Fortunately the prototype was preserved: it is now displayed at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland in Tikkakoski.
Legacy
Fortunately the Pyörremyrsky legacy continued even after the prototype was grounded. In 1948, construction started on a replacement of the VL Pyry trainer. The new design reused the wing design of the Pyörremyrsky in combination with a new fuselage. This aircraft, which was constructed by the successor of VL, Valmet, was named Vihuri (Gale) and first flew on February 6th 1951. The Vihuri prototype was designated VH-1, VH being an abbreviation of Vihuri.
After successful tests the Finnish air force ordered 30 aircraft on 27 February 1951. These were collectively called Vihuri sarja (series) II and carried the numbers VH-2 to VH-31. Series II were entered service in 1953 and this prompted the Finnish air force to order yet another 20 aircraft by autumn 1954. These aircraft were collectively called Vihuri series III and carried the numbers VH-32 to VH-51. All of series III were handed over to the Finnish air force on 15 January 1957.
Unlike the Pyörremyrsky the Vihuri was entirely constructed from metal. As a trainer it was a sound design, however it suffered badly in the engine department. The Vihuri design used old Tampere (Bristol) Mercury engines which had been recuperated from scrapped Bristol Blenheim bombers. These engines were already worn out by the time they were installed on the trainers which lead to a lot of breakdowns. After a string of fatal accidents the design was placed under severe suspicion and in March of 1957 all the Vihuri's were grounded after an accident was caused by structural failure. A subsequent inquest showed this particular accident as well as most of the previous ones were caused by pilots violating the flight safety regulations, taking the aircraft beyond its structural limitations. The Vihuri was returned to service in May of 1957, but following two further fatal accidents in 1959 the type was permanently grounded and stricken from the Finnish Air Force's inventory, with 31 out of 32 surviving airframes being sold for scrap; ironically it was outlasted in service by the Pyry (withdrawing in 1962), the design it was supposed to replace as a trainer. The sole surviving complete Vihuri is now displayed next to the sole surviving Pyörremyrsky at the Tikkakoski air force museum.
Media
- Skins
- Images
- Videos
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Fiat G.55
- Macchi C.205
- Hawker Tempest
- Martin-Baker MB.5
- Reggiane Re.2005
- Supermarine Spitfire
- Yakovlev Yak-9
External links
- [Development] Pyörremyrsky: The Nordic Whirlwind
- [Wikipedia] VL Pyörremyrsky
- Official data sheet - more details about the performance
| Finnish State Aircraft Factory (Valtion Lentokonetehdas) | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Mörkö-Morane* · VL Myrsky II · VL Pyörremyrsky |
| ▄Fokker D.XXI-3* · ▄Fokker D.XXI* | |
| * Licensed Production / Variants | |
| See Also | Morane-Saulnier · Fokker |
| Sweden fighters | |
|---|---|
| ASJA | J6B |
| Saab | J21A-1 · J21A-2 · A21A-3 |
| FFVS | J22-A · J22-B |
| Foreign Import | J8A · Iacobi's J8A · J9 Early · J11 · J20 · J26 David · J26 |
| Finland | |
| VL | Mörkö-Morane · VL Myrsky II · VL Pyörremyrsky |
| (NL) Fokker | ▄Fokker D.XXI-3 · ▄Fokker D.XXI |
| (DE) Messerschmitt | ▄Bf 109 G-2 · ▄Bf 109 G-6 Erla · ▄Bf 109 G-6 |
| Other | ▄B-239 · ▄Hurricane Mk I/L |
| Sweden premium aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Iacobi's J8A · ▄Fokker D.XXI · Mörkö-Morane · VL Myrsky II · J9 Early · J26 David · VL Pyörremyrsky · ▄Bf 109 G-6 |
| Jet fighters | J29D · J35A · Saab J35XS · JA37DI F21 |
| Strike aircraft | SAAB-105OE · A32A Röd Adam |
| Bomber | ▄Ar 196 A-5 |
