Valmet L-90 Redigo
# Valmet L-90 Redigo

The Valmet L-90 Redigo is a turboprop-powered military basic trainer aircraft and liaison aircraft, a development of Valmet's earlier training aircraft for the Finnish Air Force. The L-90 was the last military aircraft designed and produced in Finland.

## Design and development

The prototype, a modified L-80, first flew on February 12, 1985. A second prototype, powered by a Turbomeca TP319 turboprop, was destroyed in an accident in August 1988. A total of 29 production aircraft plus the 2 prototypes were produced. Aermacchi purchased the manufacturing rights in 1996 but never returned the aircraft to production.

The aircraft is of conventional configuration, with retractable tricycle gear and a low wing. The student and instructor sit side-by-side. As is typical with many military trainers, it can also carry light armament for weapons training, or potentially, for use in a close-support role. The Finnish Air Force only used the L-90 as a liaison aircraft.

## Operators

### Eritrea

    Eritrean Air Force 6 in service as of 2011

### Finland

    Finnish Air Force, 10 units, the whole fleet retired

### Mexico

    Mexican Navy 7 in service

## Specifications (M-290 TP)

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft and Systems Directory 1999/2000

General characteristics

* Crew: 2
* Capacity: Can accommodate additional two passengers or stretcher with patient
* Length: 8.53 m (28 ft 0 in)
* Wingspan: 10.60 m (34 ft 9 in)
* Height: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
* Wing area: 14.8 $m^2$ (159 sq ft)
* Airfoil: root: NACA 63-218 (mod); tip: NACA 63-412 (mod)
* Empty weight: 970 kg (2,138 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb) clean – Acrobatic category

          1,470 kg (3,240 lb) clean – Utility category
          1,600 kg (3,500 lb) clean – Normal category
          1,900 kg (4,200 lb) w/ external stores – Normal category
* Powerplant: 1 × Allison 250-B17F turboprop, 340 kW (450 hp)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 354 km/h (220 mph, 191 kn) TAS @ 3,281 m (10,764 ft) & 1,600 kg (3,500 lb), clean
* Cruise speed: 326 km/h (203 mph, 176 kn) TAS @ 3,281 m (10,764 ft) & 1,600 kg (3,500 lb), clean
* Stall speed: 93 km/h (58 mph, 50 kn)
* Never exceed speed: 415 km/h (258 mph, 224 kn) IAS
* Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi) #@ 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) normal cruise speed, clean
* Service ceiling: 6,340 m (20,800 ft) (engine limitation)
* g limits: +7.0 −3.5 @ 1,350 kg (2,980 lb) – Aerobatic Category Limit

          +4.4 −1.76 @ 1,470 kg (3,240 lb) – Utility Category Limit
          +3.8 −1.52 @ 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) – Normal Category Limit (clean)
          +3.8 −1.52 @ 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) – Normal Category Limit (w/ external stores)
* Rate of climb: 9.3 m/s (1,830 ft/min) @ 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) ISA

          6.3 m/s (1,240 ft/min) @ 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) ISA
* Wing loading: 91.6 $kg/m^2$ (18.8 lb/sq ft)
* Power/mass: 0.25 kW/kg (0.15 hp/lb)

Armament

* Hardpoints: Six hardpoints for a maximum of 800 kg (1,800 lb) of weapons
