L-90 Redigo

The Valmet L-90 Redigo is a turboprop-powered basic trainer and liaison aircraft produced by Valmet of Finland. Developed from the company's earlier Finnish Air Force training aircraft, it entered Finnish service in a liaison role and was the last military aircraft designed and built in Finland.

Development

The programme derived from the piston-engined Valmet L-70 Vinka and its turboprop derivative, the L-80 Turbo-Vinha. The prototype, a modified L-80, first flew on 12 February 1985. A second prototype, powered by a Turbomeca TP319 turboprop, was destroyed in an accident in August 1988. Twenty-nine production aircraft were built in addition to the two prototypes. Aermacchi purchased the manufacturing rights in 1996 and marketed the type as the M-290 TP Redigo, but never restarted production.

Design

The Redigo is of conventional configuration with a low wing, retractable tricycle landing gear, and side-by-side seating for student and instructor. The wing uses a modified NACA 63-218 section at the root and NACA 63-412 at the tip, with an area of 14.8 m². The cabin can accommodate two additional passengers or a stretcher and patient. The M-290 TP is powered by a single Allison 250-B17F turboprop rated at 340 kW (450 hp), giving a maximum speed of 354 km/h TAS at 3,281 m and a range of 1,000 km at 1,600 kg. Service ceiling is 6,340 m, limited by the engine. Empty weight is 970 kg; maximum take-off weight ranges from 1,350 kg in the aerobatic category to 1,900 kg with external stores in the normal category. Load limits are +7.0/−3.5 g in the aerobatic category and +3.8/−1.52 g in the normal category.

Armament

Six underwing hardpoints can carry up to 800 kg of stores for weapons training or light close-support work. Carriage of external stores restricts the aircraft to the normal category at 1,900 kg maximum take-off weight, reducing rate of climb to 6.3 m/s at ISA conditions.

Operational History

The Finnish Air Force operated ten aircraft, using them exclusively as liaison machines rather than trainers; the fleet has been retired. Export customers were the Eritrean Air Force, which took six, and the Mexican Navy, which received seven. All Eritrean and Mexican aircraft have also been withdrawn from use. Six Valmet A-90 Raiders are operated in the United States by the contractor Blue Air Training.

Variants

• L-80 Turbo-Vinha: Turboprop development of the L-70 Vinka, one example of which was modified to serve as the L-90 prototype.
• L-90 TP Redigo: Production trainer and liaison aircraft, 29 built by Valmet plus two prototypes.
• M-290 TP Redigo: Aermacchi designation applied after the company acquired the manufacturing rights in 1996.
• A-90 Raider: Variant operated in civil registration by Blue Air Training in the United States.