Valtion lentokonetehdas VL Sääski
Valtion lentokonetehdas · Finland · first flew 1928 · light aircraft
The VL Sääski ('Mosquito') was a Finnish parasol-monoplane two-seat primary trainer built by the State Aircraft Factory and used by the Finnish Air Force in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Parasol monoplane with single strut-mounted wing above fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Finnish 1920s parasol-wing two-seat primary trainer
- Parasol monoplane with single strut-mounted wing above fuselage
- Used to train Finnish Air Force pilots in the early 1930s
Classic parasol monoplane with a single high-mounted wing braced by struts above an open tandem cockpit fuselage and fixed tailskid undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Valtion lentokonetehdas VL Sääski has a length of 7.3 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.5 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 155 km/h (96 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed and manufactured at the Valtion lentokonetehdas (State Aircraft Factory), the Sääski was Finland's first significant indigenous aircraft and helped establish the country's aviation manufacturing capability. It served as the primary trainer for the Finnish Air Force throughout the 1930s.
Variants
The Sääski II was a refined follow-on variant with a more powerful engine.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Finnish Air Force as a standard primary trainer from 1928 into the late 1930s.
Related aircraft
- Valtion lentokonetehdas IVL K.1 Kurki
- VL Kotka
- VL Tuisku
- VL Viima
- Aero A.35
- Albatros L 74
- BFW M.21
- BFW M.23
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