The Valmet L-70 ''Vinka'' is a Finnish-designed

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-powered military basic trainer aircraft of the 1970s. A production run of 30 aircraft were built for the Finnish Air Force in the early 1980s, and although the type was not exported, it formed the basis of the turboprop-powered

Aermacchi M-290 RediGO The Valmet L-90 Redigo is a turboprop-powered military basic trainer aircraft and liaison aircraft, a development of Valmet's earlier training aircraft for the Finnish Air Force. The L-90 was the last military aircraft designed and produced in ...

Development and design

The Finnish state-owned manufacturing conglomerate

Valmet Oy Valmet Oyj is a Finnish company and a developer and supplier of technologies, automation systems and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Valmet has over 200 years of history as an industrial operator. Formerly owned by the St ...

began design work in September 1970 on a replacement for the

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s then in use with the Finnish Air Force as basic trainers. Valmet received an order from the Finnish Air Force for further development of the ''LEKO-70'' (''Lentokone'' (Aeroplane) 1970) in March 1973.''Air International'' December 1979, p. 266. The first

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made its maiden flight from Halli Airport for the first time on 1 July 1975.''Air International'' December 1979, p. 265. Valmet L-70 Miltrainer

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driving a two-bladed propeller. In its main training role, the pupil and instructor sit side by side under a large sliding canopy. An additional two seats or a stretcher and medical attendant can be carried for the liaison role, while the wings are fitted with four hardpoints for carrying of external stores.''Air International'' December 1979, pp. 289–290. The Finnish Air Force placed an order for 30 aircraft, to be designated ''Vinka'' (Blast (of wind)) on 28 January 1977, with the aircraft to be built at Valmet's Kuorevesi plant.''Air International'' December 1979, pp. 265, 268.

Operational history

The Vinka entered service on 13 October 1980''Air International'' February 1981, p. 73. with deliveries continuing until 1982.Green and Swanborough 1986, p. 114. Finnish Air Force pilot trainees flew about 100 hours on the Vinka at the Air Academy at Kauhava before converting to the

British Aerospace Hawk The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, jet-powered advanced trainer aircraft. It was first flown at Dunsfold, Surrey, in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk, and subsequently produced by its successor companies, British Aerospace and B ...

jet trainer. Valmet attempted to market the type internationally under the name L-70 Miltrainer, but no orders followed. In September 2022 the Vinka was removed from Air Force service after over 40 years of service.

L-80 TP Turbo Vinha

After unsuccessfully having tried to market the L-70 Vinka for the export market, Valmet developed a turboprop version with a new wing and a retractable undercarriage. This aircraft was given the designation L-80 TP Turbotrainer. The prototype (OH-VBB), powered by a 360 shp (268 kW)

Allison 250 The Allison Model 250, now known as the Rolls-Royce M250, (US military designations T63 and T703) is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been pro ...

turboprop engine, made its first flight on 12 February 1985, piloted by Paavo Janhunen.Green and Swanborough 1986, pp. 114–117. The prototype was destroyed in an accident on 24 April that year, killing the pilot Paavo Janhunen and the flight observer.Green and Swanborough May 1986, p. 117. The second prototype was baptized Valmet L-90 TP and it was used for the development of the

L-90 Redigo The Valmet L-90 Redigo is a turboprop-powered military basic trainer aircraft and liaison aircraft, a development of Valmet's earlier training aircraft for the Finnish Air Force. The L-90 was the last military aircraft designed and produced in ...

or RediGo (Both spelling versions are found in the brochures from the manufacturer).

Operators

; : Finnish Air Force - 30 were built for the FiAF, 26 remain in service and are located at the Air Force Academy at Tikkakoski.

Specifications (L-70 Vinka)

References

;Notes ;Bibliography *"A doughty Finnish wind...Vinka Enters Service". ''Air International''. February 1981, Vol 20 No 2. pp. 73–74. . * Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "Valmet's Turbotrainer...A Northern Newcomer with Tradition". ''Air International''. March 1986, Vol 30 No 3. pp. 111–117. . *"A New Northerly Air Current...The Vinka From Valmet". ''

Air International ''AIR International'' is a British aviation magazine covering current defence aerospace and civil aviation topics. It has been in publication since 1971 and is currently published by Key Publishing Ltd. History and profile The magazine was fir ...