Tuuli II

Tuuli II was the second prototype of a light sport aircraft developed by Finland’s state aircraft factory, Valtion lentokonetehdas (VL), in the early 1930s. Conceived as a successor to the earlier VL Tuuli I, the Tuuli II incorporated a wooden monocoque fuselage, a low‑wing cantilever design and a more powerful 80 hp Walter Vega radial engine, which gave it a top speed of 210 km/h and a range of roughly 800 km. The aircraft featured hinged leading‑edge flaps and adjustable incidence tailplane, innovations that improved low‑speed handling and stall characteristics, essential for pilot training and aero‑club use. First flown on 12 May 1933, the Tuuli II demonstrated excellent climb performance and gentle handling, earning praise from both military test pilots and civilian clubs. Although only a single prototype was completed before the program was halted in 1935 due to shifting defence priorities and limited funding, the Tuuli II left a lasting imprint on Finnish aviation. Its advanced structural techniques influenced later VL designs such as the VL Viima trainer, and it marked a pivotal step toward indigenous aircraft development, showcasing Finland’s technical competence during the interwar period.