Four year after Finland (Suomi) became an independant nation in 1917, the
Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas (Air Force Aircraft Factory, often
abbreviated to I.V.L. or IVL) was established within the military fortress at
Suomenlinna (Finnish Castle) near Helsinki in April 1921. The first aircraft
produced was the license built Hansa-Brandenburg W.33. Thereafter prototypes of
indigenous design and other license built types were manufactured.
In February 1928 the Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas changed into
Valtion Lentokonetehdas (State Aircraft Factory, often abbreviated to
V.L. or VL) and next to the works at Suomenlinna, another work was established
in Santahamina. Again aircraft of indigenous design and license built types
were manufactured, the Fokker D.XXI topping with 90 produced.
In 1935 Valtion Lentokonetehdas was reorganized, works at Suomenlinna
and Santahamina were closed and all design and production work was moved to
Tampere. In 1940 a second factory was opened at Kuorevesi, three years later a
third was opened at Linnavuori.
After the war ended in 1945 Valtion Lentokonetehdas and other state owned
factories were united in Valtion Metallitehtaat Lentokonetehdas
(State Metal Factories, often abbreviated to V.M.T. or VMT). A diversified
number of product were manufactured, from motors to sewing machines.
It was not until 1951 that the next aircraft design was flown. That year
Valtion Metallitehtaat Lentokonetehdas was re-named Valmet OY
Lentokonetehdas (Valmet Aircraft Factory) with subsidiaries Valmet Oy
Tampereen tehdas ja Kuoreveden tehdas (Valmet Oy Tampere works and Kuorevesi
works).
In 1963 Karhumäki works at Kuorevesi became part of Valmet. Its main
business was maintenance work for the Ilmavoimat (Finnish AF).
In 1967 Valmet moved all aviation activities to Kuorevesi.
In 1974 Valmet OY Lentokonetehdas was renamed Valmet Lentokonetehtaan
(Valmet Aviation Industries).
In 1989 Valmet Lentokonetehtaan was renamed Valmet Lentokoneteollisuus
(Valmet Aircraft Industries).
On September 5, 1996 Valmet became Patria Finavitec Oy.
The tables below show only the flown aircraft. See also the chart listing the numbers between 1922 and 1971.
Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas
A.22 (Hansa-Brandenburg W.33)
C.24
C.25
Caudron C.60
D.26 Haukka (Hawk) I
K.1. Kurki
Valtion Lentokonetehdas
D.27 Haukka (Hawk) II
Sääski (Mosquito)
Koolhoven FK.31
de Havilland Moth
Gloster Gamecock
E.30 Kotka (Eagle)
Blackburn Ripon
F.30 Paarma (Horse Fly)
Letov Š-218 Smolik
