View source for VL Viima

{{short description|Biplane trainer}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 | name=Viima
 | image=VL Viima II OH-VIF 1.JPG
 | caption=VL Viima II at Oripää Airshow 2013
 | type=Basic trainer
 | national_origin=[[Finland]]
 | manufacturer=[[Valtion Lentokonetehdas]]
 | designer=
 | first_flight=11 November 1936
 | introduction=
 | retired= May 1960 (Finnish Air Force)
 | status=Two listed airworthy, several on static display
 | primary_user=[[Finnish Air Force]]
 | more_users= <!--Limited to three in total; separate using <br /> -->
 | produced= <!--years in production-->
 | number_built=24<ref name="valtonen-heinonen104-107"/>
 | program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
 | unit cost= <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
 | developed_from= 
 | variants=
}}
'''VL Viima''', constructed by the State Aircraft Factory ({{langx|fi|[[Valtion lentokonetehdas]]}} or ''VL'')  is a [[Finland|Finnish]] two-seat, biplane trainer used by the [[Finnish Air Force]] from the late 1930s to the early 1960s.<ref name="valtonen-heinonen104-107"/> After military service, several were released into civil use.<ref name ="WA"/>

==Design==
The Viima II is a single engined, tandem seater biplane. ''Viima'' means ''Gale'' in English.  Post war, VL was eventually absorbed into '''[[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.<ref name="JAWA38"/>

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.<ref name="JAWA38"/>

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.<ref name="JAWA38"/> A tailwheel is fitted.<ref name ="WA"/> The Viima is powered by an uncowled [[Siemens-Halske Sh 14]] radial engine.<ref name="JAWA38"/>

All Viimas of the Finnish Air Force were fitted with a framed cockpit in 1950s.<ref name="valtonen-heinonen104-107"/>

==Operational history==
24 Viimas served with the Finnish Air Force until the early 1960s.<ref name="valtonen-heinonen104-107"/> Most were then sold to civilian use, with 14 appearing on the Finnish aircraft register.<ref name ="WA"/>

==Versions==
[[File:VL Viima II.JPG|thumb|300px|VL Viima II in [[Finnish Aviation Museum]], Vantaa]]
'''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.<ref name ="WA"/> Another two were delivered to the Finnish Air Defence Guild.

'''Viima IIB''' was powered by a [[de Havilland Gipsy Major]].<ref name ="WA"/>

==Operators==
; {{FIN}}
* [[Finnish Air Force]]

==Survivors==
There are two Viimas on display in Finland, one in [[Finnish Aviation Museum]] in [[Vantaa]] (VI-23/OH-VII) and second one in Härmälä, [[Tampere]] (VI-1).<ref name="valtonen-heinonen104-107"/>

One airworthy Finnish Viima was sold first to England and from there to Belgium in the autumn of 2006.<ref name="valtonen-heinonen104-107"/><ref name="Viima sale"/>

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)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{harvnb|Heinonen| Valtonen|2010|pages=104–107}}
|prime units?=met<!-- imp or kts first for US aircraft, and UK aircraft pre-metrification, met(ric) first for all others. You MUST choose a format, or no specifications will show -->
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=7.35
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=9.20
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|upper span m=
|upper span ft=
|upper span in=
|upper span note=
|mid span m=
|mid span ft=
|mid span in=
|mid span note=
|lower span m=
|lower span ft=
|lower span in=
|lower span note=
|swept m=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept ft=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept in=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept note=
|dia m=<!-- airships etc -->
|dia ft=<!-- airships etc -->
|dia in=<!-- airships etc -->
|dia note=
|width m=<!-- if applicable -->
|width ft=<!-- if applicable -->
|width in=<!-- if applicable -->
|width note=
|height m=2.73
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=20
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept area sqft=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept area note=
|volume m3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|volume ft3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|volume note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- give where relevant eg sailplanes  -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=555
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=875
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift note=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Siemens-Halske Sh 14]]A
|eng1 type=7-cylinder single row radial, air cooled
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=150<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->

|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=

|rot number=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot dia m=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot dia ft=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot dia in=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot area sqm=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot area sqft=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot area note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=186
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=167
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed mph=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=500
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=3700
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=15 min to 2000 m
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=44
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=<ref name="JAWA38"/>
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=

|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=
}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="JAWA38">{{harvnb|Grey|1972|page=101c}}</ref>
<ref name="WA">{{harvnb|Simpson|2001|page=563}}</ref>
<ref name="Viima sale">{{cite web| title=Last Viima| url=http://www.avbuyer.com/Dealers/DealerResults.asp?Id=1952#| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004155949/http://www.avbuyer.com/Dealers/DealerResults.asp?Id=1952| archive-date=2006-10-04| url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="valtonen-heinonen104-107">{{harvnb|Heinonen|Valtonen|2010|pages=104–107}}</ref>

}}

==References==
{{commons category|VL Viima}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938|last= Grey |first= C.G. |year=1972|publisher= David & Charles|location= London|isbn=0-7153-5734-4}}
*{{cite book |title= Airlife's World Aircraft|last= Simpson |first= Rod |year=2001|publisher= Airlife Publishing Ltd|location= Shrewsbury|isbn=1-84037-115-3}}
*{{cite book |title= Albatrosista Pilatukseen|last1= Heinonen |first1= Timo |last2 = Valtonen |first2 = Hannu |year=2010|publisher= Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo|location= Tikkakoski|isbn=978-952-99989-2-0|language=fi}}
{{refend}}

{{Valtion lentokonetehdas aircraft}}
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:1930s Finnish military aircraft]]
[[Category:Trainer aircraft]]