While not built in significant numbers at any one time, the Pyörremyrsky or Waterspout, has remained in limited production since before the Winter War. Initially constructed for the government appointed airline under the name of Merituuli, or Sea Breeze and was initially powered by Bristol Hercules engines, produced under license. It was just one of many sea-landing airliners, whether flying boat or float-plane, built during the 1930s.

While some of the Merituuli remain unmodified for military duties, most, along with new builds, have been appropriated and modified for military service where it has found a critical niche for itself.

Re-engined with twin BMW 801G-12 engines driving contra-rotating 115" VDM-Dural 4-Blade propellers with a single exhaust collector pipe for each engine that provides a jet-like boost in speed from the heated exhaust. Cooling was a unique system pioneered by Focke-Wulf earlier in the war during the development of the Fw-190 in which air was rammed into the air cooled engine around a prominent fixed conical protrusion ahead of the engine and vented into the exhaust system. At the time engine outputs were not great enough to capitalize on this system but was a proper fit for the redesigned Pyörremyrsky. A ventral gondola with two gunnery positions and a reconfigured nose and tail assembly allowed for two additional gunnery positions. The cramped accommodations provided by the aircraft did not permit full turret mountings but it provided the aircraft some level of defense with its four 20 LTK/404 2 cm auto-cannons.

The roles the Pyörremyrsky serve in are numerous. She has been employed in the roles of transport, VIP transport, paratroop transport, air-sea patrol, patrol-bomber, liaison, target tug, trainer, med-evac as well as search and rescue of downed aircrews and survivors of shipwrecks. In the latter two roles the aircraft lacks the pylons for underwing stores, has a different paint scheme of overall light gray, Finnish Insignia as well as prominent red crosses on the wings, tail surfaces and fuselage - but retains the cannon armament for self-defense for those who do not abide by the conventions of warfare. These med-evac as well as search and rescue aircraft have seen the most of the western allies' aircraft as they rescued allied as well as axis aircrews and shipwrecked castaways. Unlike the Luftwaffe policy of taking allied airmen and seamen as POWs or firing upon them in the water Finland has made a point to signal allied seaplanes and floatplanes to release them into their custody. Goering, who has been instructing his aircrews to shoot allied pilots in their parachutes and in the water, has been very vocal about Finnish policy regarding the treatment of rescued allied aircrews and seamen but thus far no repercussions have emerged.

It is unknown if Finnish policy on this matter has any direct impact on the opinion in the west. Truth be known, they simply do not have a policy in place for imprisoning airmen and seamen with countries with whom a formal though purely political declaration of war has been made. While at one time nearly half a million Soviet military POWs were in their care MOST of their Soviet prisoners of war have been handed over to Germany due to their assurances that they have ample prison camp space.

Coincidentally the world's first smog advisories have been announced over former Polish Airspace in the past two years. When inquiring into the matter, Finnish authorities were informed that controlled burning of brush and increased industrial activity due to the ongoing war with the allies was the cause.

Flight Instructions;

-This aircraft is NOT Amphibious!! Start at one of the Water Takeoffs.
-Use VTOL to lower the flaps.
-Apply full pitch to climb and hold it in position to keep the nose of the floats out of the water.
-Throttle up to 60%.
-With the bombload, take-off is at around 144 mph. Without, it is 122 mph.
-Return flaps to the center position or at least reduce it for use as trim to climb to the desired altitude.
-Throttle up to 75% for cruising speed; 100% for maximum speed.

You will find that despite the heavy floats and 500 Lb. bombload she is remarkably nimble for an aircraft in her class and capable of speed worthy of a combat aircraft.

AG 1 - Activates the forward firing guns, use Trim to elevate and depress the nose gun while the forward ventral gun will rake from side to side under the nose.

AG 2 - Activates the rearward firing guns, use Trim to elevate and depress the tail gun while the aft ventral gun will rake from side to side under the tail.

AG 3 - (Optional;) Drops both 250 Lb. bombs at once or can be dropped independently in the conventional fashion. WARNING! Make certain the aircraft is not banking when dropping the bombs as they pass dangerously close to the outrigger floats.

NOTE: The guns are modded with the stats of 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 guns, spuriously produced under license in Finland. They are set up in such a way that they will not endanger the aircraft even if both AG1 and AG2 are activated. The aircraft is vulnerable to attacks that come more or less directly in from port, starboard, above and below. With the fact that these are not normally formation flying aircraft however flight crews are trained to take evasive action that will place aggressors in the line of fire. Considering the aircraft's performance IF the modified variant displayed here were available before Operation Sea Lion, the aircraft would have too much for the RAF to handle during the Battle of Britain.

Landings:

- Personally I prefer dead stick landings on the water, but that's just my personal preference.
- In either case you will have to decelerate and drop in altitude.
- Adjust the attitude of the aircraft with flaps and pitch as you approach the water's surface; Maintain a speed above 120 mph though!
- At 100 ft hit the break; You will want to be moving at about 120~140 mph, apply full flaps, pull up and let gravity do the rest, easing her down - float-rudder first.
- Do NOT release pitch until the aircraft has slowed to 35 mph; Apply rudder to brake more quickly.
- While I have not attempted it myself, it is not recommended that you try to land with the bombs still in place as this will likely pull the nose of the floats underwater.

Designer's Notes; I initially decided to build an attack aircraft when I started this project however as the build progressed it took a life of its own and appeared as you see before you. Yes, I've built similar float planes in the past. Yes, it may seem redundant. However I like float-planes, sea-planes and amphibians! I love to fly, I love to swim, its a match made on SimplePlanes! XD Either way, not to toot my own horn, but I think this is the best floatplane I've built to date. It was a little tricky to learn how to handle those powerful engines, which in reality are a pair of T1000s in each housing but once I got it down, despite her size, flight characteristics can be described best as "frolicking in the sky," an absolute joy to fly. It was built for General360's Alternate WW2 role-play build.

Most builders do not include a long schpiel on the history, power plants, service, etc. - of their builds but as an old time table-top gamer, war gamer and amateur historian I like to put my builds in some manner of perspective. It does not necessarily reflect General360's RP or actual goings-on.

Wanna get in on the fun? Search for General360 and read his forum posts regarding the alternate WW2 history, look at the country list available and pick a side! :-D The war is updated every 5 days.