Recent aviation history articles from the Finnish Virtual Pilots Association
All aviation history articles available at:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/* Kyösti "Kössi" Karhila, Curtiss and Messerschmitt ace
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/WW2History-KyostiKarhilaEnglish.htmlThe article combined two different interviews with more free discussions at cafeteria.
Kyösti Karhila flew the Fokker D.XXI, Curtiss Hawk 75 and Messerschmitt 109 fighters in LeLv 32 and HLeLv 34, ending the war with 32 confirmed victories. Mr. Karhila was interviewed in the Finnish Aviation Museum, both systematically and in a more free environment. The professional pilot, who has flown 50 years of his life, had many things to say from various matters.
Snips:
- Your opinion is that the Curtiss was in principle a high class plane and pleasant to fly?
.It was indeed, flying and mechanical quality. I used to admire the cockpit plexiglass quality. Sunlight did not affect it unlike that of the Messerschmitt. There was not even the blue tint. Comparing that with a Messerschmitt canopy, through that you could see but... .
-Can you remember anything about the two Mustangs that you bagged?
.I got both in a turning battle, out-turning them. We did several times 360 degrees until he became nervous, then pulled a little too much. His plane "warned", the pilot had to give way a little and I was able to get deflection. When I got to shoot at the other one, the entire left side was ripped off.
-Do you have any idea how is it possible that the Curtisses in Finland were found to be so much slower than the manufacturer claimed? Was it a case of plain lying?
.Look, a plane custom made for representation could be polished as well as possible, all the cracks were filled up and so on. A lot of advantage could be gained that way. The planes used in the front were not similarly treated, it cut the speed. And when testing there was no limits in using the engine. An engine could be worn out just to get good performance readings.
. With the Curtisses we used to go and taunt Kronstadt. Capt. Paavo Berg had been in the Winter War and he had an itch to go and taunt the Russkies. The Curtiss was equipped with a funnel for the pilot to relieve himself; as long as we were in our side of the front, Berg would command, out with the funnel. Everyone opened their trousers and then on the Russian side there was some yellow rain. It was "a revenge of some sort". We did taunt the Kronstadt, too. We used to approach at 2000m and the enemy AAA used to open fire at its extreme range, we turned back and nothing more remarkable happened. I cannot remember how many times we had done that as I was flying on Berg's right wing and wondered how we could keep going, we were approaching Kronstadt and nothing happened; AAA did not shoot, neither was Berg about to turn back. I thought, if he will not turn back soon I will. Then Berg started to turn to the left - and the enemy opened fire.
* History of Hyvinkää Airfield
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/WW2History-EfhvEnglish.htmlA typical airfield built during the Temporary Peace. The construction of Hyvinkää Airfield began during the Temporary Peace. Hyvinkää had been bombed eighteen times during the Winter War, with 270 buildings suffering damage, ten of which had burned down. Six people had been killed and seventeen injured.
* Antti Tani and Jussi Huotari - two aces
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/WW2History-TaniHuotariEnglish.htmlWe interviewed two veteran fighter pilots, Mr. Antti Tani and Mr. Jouko "Jussi" Huotari in Kouvola on the 10th July 2002. In this article the two veteran pilots speak about their planes, Morane Saulnier 406, Brewster B-239 and Messerschmitt 109, answer to questions and tell about their years in the air.
"Brewster, Curtiss Hawk 75, Fiat G.50 and Morane Saulnier 406 had a race. They took off at the same time from Joroinen and landed at Naarajärvi. The Brewster arrived first, then the Fiat, the Curtiss, the Morane. We were watching as they arrived with brief intervals. I was watching and thought, "must I fly such a bad plane?"
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Other articles:
* Forgotten Battles Event
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/photoreports/fb-event2003/Virtuaalilentäjät - Virtual Pilots ry, association of Finnish WW2 online simulator pilots organized an event together with Ubi Soft Nordic to celebrate the publishing of the long awaited WW2 flight simulator IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles.
The simulator featured, for the first time ever in an flight simulator, the Finnish front . Also the Pearl of the Skies, our longed Brewster B-239 fighter, made its debyt on flight simulators. Not to mention the Finnish map, towns, other Finnish aircraft, campaigns and so on. Never before the Finnish-Russian front had been so thoroughly presented in commercial flight simulator.
We hoped there would be at least some people, so we wouldn't need to talk to just empty chairs. The invitations had been well received, though. We had prepared for possibly 100 people - but well over 200 turned in! Even the Finnish World War II pilots association, Pilvenveikot, was there with stenght equal to almost three schwarms, of which we were very happy. So the simulator event turned out to be a surprising success! Very big thanks to all who came - your participation made all the trouble we've had worthwile!
Press photos of the said event:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/press/photos/http://www.virtualpilots.fi/press/photos/fb-event1_virtuaalilentajat_photoby_pekka_potka.jpg* FINNISH EQUIPMENT IN FLIGHT SIMULATORS
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/artikkelit/suomi_simuissa/Combination of various Finnish Air Force equipment available in various flight simulators, both WW2 and modern.
* ONLINE FLIGHT SIMULATOR HISTORY - A BRIEF LOOK ON WHEN, WHAT AND WHO
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/articles/simhistory/Who wrote and or developed the Original, what was it, when was it written, who were its eventual competitors and where did they come from, what is WarBirds history and why did AH come in to being,
This article was put together from discussion Online flight sims, a family tree at Alt.Games.WarBirds. I hope to find more good material to add, especially from/about the newest sim creators point of view to the end, AH, WW2OL, Targetware and FA too.
* Urban Blitz & Mosquito Meeting reports moved
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/The Finnish convention reports are slowly transferred to the Virtual Pilots website.
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Other news:
The Finnish Virtual Pilots Association has been accepted as member into The Association for Military History in Finland.
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Virtual Pilots created lots of interesting press arranging the Forgotten Battles event. The simulator has been no:1 in the Finnish game top selling lists, even!
Some interesting clips:
Siivet:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/press/fb-event-Siivet-200302.jpgRuotuväki, Finnish Army magazine:
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/press/fb-Ruotuv%E4ki_2003-07_forgottenbattles.jpg--
Virtuaalilentäjät ry - Virtual Pilots Finland Association is an association, which purpose is to promote World War II multiplayer flight simulators and aviation hobby among people interested in aviation. More information about the association is available from
http://www.virtualpilots.fi . Our plan of action also includes active research and preservation of Finnish aviation history - more about that from
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/en/info/hist/ and
http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/ .
Jukka O. Kauppinen - tel. +358-40-730 0036
Grendel, VLeLv Icebreakers
Finnish Virtual Pilots Association
