"Wuzzat", you ask? Read on, look at the pikshur, and ye shall be enlightened.
In 1939 the Finnish Air Force was seeking fighter aircraft to defend itself from the onslaught of the Russian Bear. Several foreign types would serve under the siniristilippu, but the Finns also produced a number of domestic designs... among them, the VL Myrsky. (VL = 'Valtion lentokonetehdas'; the State aircraft factory.)
The Myrsky had wooden wings and a metal fuselage structure covered largely in fabric and plywood, leading some to refer to the type as the 'Finnish Hurricane'. Even the name strikes a synonymous chord; 'Myrsky' is Finnish for 'storm'.
But there the similarities end, as the Finnish type did not enjoy the same level of success achieved by its distant British cousin. Not even close. The prototype Myrsky flew on December 23rd, 1941 and proved to be a tad on the heavy side. Changes were made and three pre-production aircraft (Myrsky I) produced, but structural problems cropped up, particularly at high-speeds, and all three were destroyed during testing, with the loss of two pilots killed and nearly the third. Despite this, the type entered production, with 47 examples (Myrsky II) being produced. From there, it all came unglued... literally. The glues used in the Myrsky's wooden construction did not stand up well to the cold or wet, resulting in widespread failure of glue seams. Ten Myrskys II were destroyed in accidents from 1943 to 1947, with 4 pilots killed... who knows how many other 'near misses' there may have been. The type was retired from operations in May of 1947.
Despite all its problems, the Myrsky was well-liked by pilots because it was fast and maneuverable, comfortable to fly, and handled well not only in the air but also on the ground. Anyhoo, we present here for your viewing pleasure a fine view of 'MY-5', the first production Myrsky II. Nauti!
Suomen Ilmailumuseo (Finnish Aviation Museum)
Fade to Black...
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