From island seaplanes to Valmet

Valmet’s aircraft works began in 1921 as the Finnish Air Force Aircraft Factory, building seaplanes on Helsinki’s islands because Finland had hardly any airfields. In 1928 it became the State Aircraft Factory, in 1936 it moved to Härmälä near Tampere, and during the Second World War it dispersed repair and production across half a dozen towns. After 1945 it was folded into the state metal works, and in 1951 it became Valmet Oy’s aircraft factory, part of a conglomerate whose other products ranged from paper machinery to tractors.

Trainers for the Finnish Air Force

The first Valmet aircraft was the Vihuri trainer, first flown at Tampere on 6 February 1951; 51 were built and it became the most-used type in the air force before being grounded in 1959. Valmet then licence-built 62 Fouga Magister jets, tougher than the French-built ones, and assembled 46 of Finland’s 50 Hawk Mk 51s at Kuorevesi, delivered from 1980. Its L-70 Vinka piston trainer first flew from Halli on 1 July 1975; all 30 went to the Finnish Air Force and served until 1 September 2022.

The last Finnish design

The turboprop L-90 Redigo followed on 12 February 1985. Only 31 were built, for Finland, Eritrea and the Mexican Navy, and Aermacchi bought the rights in 1996 without restarting production. That made the Redigo the last military aircraft designed and built in Finland. The same year the aircraft works became Patria Finavitec, and the Halli plant now builds F-35 front fuselages for Patria.

Factories

• Härmälä works · Tampere — Main plant from 1936
• Kuorevesi works (Halli) · Jämsä — Hawk assembly; Vinka first flight; now Patria

People

• Martti Vainio · chief designer — Led the Vihuri project
• Esko Halme · test pilot — First flight of the Vihuri, 1951