Luftwaffe Skizzenbuch

2007-10-24

Hans Liska was one of the most famous illustrators in the service of the German Armed Forces in World War II. This is an album published in 1942 with his illustrations.

The Honourable Finnish Swastika

Aarne Ellilä
2007-02-18

In Finland the Swastika was first used by the government in 1918, in the Cross of Liberty decoration designed by Gallen-Kallela, and as the national insignia of the Finnish Air Force. Swedish Count Eric von Rosen had donated the first FiAF aircraft, decorated by swastikas painted on the wings. Thus the Swastika was introduced by two sources by two men in two different manifestations. The other national symbols of the young Finnish state included the national coat of arms from the 1500's, the national anthem and the blue cross flag from the year 1918. Only later, The Nazi Swastika also tainted the Finnish Swastika, a honorable symbol still used as a symbol in the Finnish Armed Forces.

Messerschmitt was a warplane made for serial production

Juha-Pekka Kervinen
2006-10-15

The light fighter Messerschmitt Bf109 was the most important aeroplane of Adolf Hitler. It has been produced more than any other fighter. Hannu Valtonen made his PhD of the two planes displayed in Central Finland Aviation Museum.

Finnish Wartime Airfields - sotakentät 1939-1945

Martti "Mangrove" Kujansuu
2006-05-16

This is a project make a reference of Finnish airfields used by Finnish Air Force during the wars between 1939-1945, namely the Winter War, Continuation War and Lappland War. The Wartime Airfields project also includes airfield data about ice fields, airfields used during the temporary peace 1940-1941, airfields used by Swedish volunteer unit F.19 during Winter War, airfields used by Germans and Russian airfields. The project makes use of the free satellite mapping program Google Earth.

Brewster BW-372: The Story of a Brewster

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2006-03-01

Finnish Virtual Pilots Association (Virtuaalilentäjät ry) organized a presentation event in which the story of the Finnish World War II Brewster fighter aircraft and its journey to the United States was described in detail. This article contains information from the lecturers and will be updated with new information.

Songs from the all glass song book

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2006-01-08

Wartime aviation related songs, by the pilots.

Messerschmitt 109 - myths and facts

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2005-03-15

This article and its sub sections are put together to dispell some of the persistent myths about the Messerschmitt 109 fighter. As the most ever built fighter which was the mainstay of German Luftwaffe and various other air forces, the plane is also victim of intentional disinformation, many most persistent urban myths and just ignorance. The attempt here is to look at the subject, Messerschmitt 109, through the eyes of the 109 pilots.

Simulated flight to history - historical battles in online simulators

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2004-06-13

With flight simulators, it's possible to experience World War II aerial combats today. Most of the simulators sold in shops can be played only against computer-controlled opponents and they are set in a limited historical period. Online simulators played in the Internet don't have such limitations: environments change daily and other people fly along with you. A historical battle flown online can give you a touch of the magic of the old warbirds, and give an impression of what it may have been like.

WarBirds easter eggs and oddities - a collection of easter eggs and strange things found from WarBirds simulator

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2004-04-28

The orginal Confirmed Kill had a giant Godzilla in the terrain. Since that it has been the tradition of WarBirds programmers to insert small secrets, strange locations or objects, called easter eggs to the simulator. This is a small collection of easter eggs the author has found.

Ilmavoimien hihamerkkejä - Sleeve badges of Finnish Air Force

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2003-09-28

On this page you see various Finnish Air Force squadron, unit and personnel badges. Sivulle on koostettu kuvia erilaisista Suomen Ilmavoimien hihamerkeistä. Idea artikkeliin syntyi Kimmo Hannulan kuvakoosteesta FSNordic-keskustelupalstalla. Kimmo antoi luvan julkaista hihamerkit myös Virtuaalilentäjät ry:n sivuilla, mistä hänelle lämpimät kiitokset.

Book of Dweeb - historical document on the developments of online simulators

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2003-08-20

The Book of Dweeb is an historical document. It is part of the history of online simulators. And it shows how little has yet changed during all the past years. Be it a Dweeb, Dweebfire, Altmonkey, whatever - they all remain still. This is not just about WarBirds history, but it related fully to all the online pilots out there - IL-2, Forgotten Battles, Aces High, World War II Online, Fighter Ace, European Air War - it has something for everyone. And is soddin' fun reading. Enjoy it all - this is piece of the history of our hobby.

Finnish Pilot Pack for IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles

2003-05-18

Finnish Pilot Pack for IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles Put together by LLv34_Jompa. Author's notice: I put the pack together to rise the historical feeling in the campaign roster. The reason why I have picked almost only aces are my sources. The pilot names are used in the DGen campaign.

Online flight simulator history - collection of recollections about flight simulator developments

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2003-02-25

It seems pretty obvious that the MMOL flight sim business is quite a small community and that the products out there (new and old) have been or are being developed by a small group of developers. Who wrote and or developed the "original", what was it, when was it written, who were its eventual competitors and where did they come from, what is WarBirds history and why did AH come in to being? This article was put together from discussion Online flight sims, a family tree at Alt.Games.WarBirds.

Recovery and restoration of the Finnish Messerschmitt 109 G-2 "MT-208"

Jukka O. Kauppinen aka Grendel
2000-09-25

In 1999 a rare Messerschmitt Bf109 G-2 fighter was recovered from the Gulf of Bothnia. The fighter was lost 01.08.1946 when it hit aerial target drone towed by a Fokker C.X. During its last sortie the fighter was flown by Väinö Pokela, wartime pilot of LeLv 24 and LeLv 34.