Finnish mystery aircraft at Vaanta aircraft museum
At the Finnish aviation museum near Vaanta airport, just outside Helsinki, Finland, you may find all sorts of aircraft. Lots of Soviet bloc stuff like MiG fighters, Mil helicopters, beautiful biplanes, smooth gliders and relics from the WW 2. There is even a beautifully restored Convair Metropolitan airliner in the main hangar. And a Polikarpov I-16 UTI two seat trainer, what a gem! Out of around 70-80 aircraft you would probably be able to tell most of their names, or at least have an idea of origin or so. Piece of cake. And then there is this contraption... When I saw it I was totally struck by its appearance, like it was from another solar system...or not. Now, can the brains of iModeler come up with some reasonable, ehem, explanation of what it is!? No clue from web page though http://ilmailumuseo.fi/en/
Not a clue, my friend...not even 100 percent sure it IS aviation-related.
Well, it is at an aircraft museum...so someone thought it to be related if nothing else.
True...but that first [small] shot depicts it being piled among what looks like a bunch of other scrap metal that do NOT appear airplane related. Perhaps someone can shed some light. 🙁
If you're ever back there where you took the pic, maybe someone there can enlighten us all. Just a thought. 🙂
Yes, I´ll try do that. Thanks for your input.
It's clearly ductwork for the museum central heating system.
Now, that is an idea, hahaha!
My guess is it's part of a Yak 15 or 23
Good try, but no I´m afraid.
P.S. it's upside down, I think.
Nope, sorry.
It looks like it may have been a semi scale "aircraft" to be used as a parade float. Maybe a movie prop?
Yes, this is what I think as well. It´s well crafted and got some tricky curves so someone must have put some time and energy into making it.
I am also thinking parade vehicle. A seat. with a smoke generator.(hence the bottle). and a fan to blow the smoke out the back. Steering wheel. and the steering cables. I think the give away as a non aircraft was the steel rivets rusting away..I would sure like to see the front part.
It is cool.
California Steve
Thanks for your comment, Steve. Interesting detective work on your part. Rivets might be a lead but I´ve been exposed to too many MiGs to really react when seeing rusty rivets. Sorry about no photos of the front part or full machine. Think I found it just before we were about to leave and got a bit rushed.
Its... a... water heater ?
I like your explanation. Just like Rob you think out of the box, commendable 🙂
I'm with Steve - thinking it was a boy scout's entry in the soap box derby, engineered by a father trying to impress the other dads...
Hahaha, great one! Yes, by the dad who just MUST win every year. Thanks for helping out with the background to the mystery aircraft.
A ducted fan (well, a fan inside a tube that looks like a duct), a rudimentary "cockpit" with a seat and some control wires, a curved and sturdy-looking plexiglass (I guess) windscreen, a retractable wheel and a bizarre shape that's not traditional in any way...
hm. My guess would be either an experimental ground effect craft/ "ekranoplan" or an aerosan built for speed records.