VL Humu
Valtion lentokonetehdas · Finland · first flew 1944 · fighter
The VL Humu was a Finnish single-seat fighter prototype developed by the state aircraft factory (Valtion lentokonetehdas) during World War II as an emergency measure to boost Finland's fighter production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.03 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Finnish single-seat fighter prototype based on the Brewster Buffalo
- Mid-wing monoplane with retractable undercarriage
- Finnish state factory wartime emergency design
A stubby mid-wing radial-engined fighter closely following the Brewster Buffalo's layout, with retractable undercarriage; the sole example, HM-671, is displayed at the Central Finland Aviation Museum.
Specifications
- The VL Humu has a length of 8.03 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 430 km/h (267 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Finland had used 44 Brewster B-239 Buffalos in the Continuation War, and in 1942 VL was told to produce a copy, largely of wood with a steel frame, powered by a captured Shvetsov M-63 radial. First flown on 8 August 1944, it proved 250 kg overweight and underpowered, and the end of the war ended the project.
Variants
Only a single prototype was completed; the type did not enter production.
Where you'll see it
Never entered front-line service with the Finnish Air Force.
Related aircraft
- Valtion lentokonetehdas VL Pyörremyrsky
- VL Myrsky
- VL Viima
- VL Tuisku
- Arado E.580
- Bell XP-77
- Blohm & Voss BV 155
- Blohm & Voss BV 40
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