The Palonmyräkkä or Firestorm was an independent venture launched by Valtion Lentokonetehdas using samples of the new Jumo J.150V-3 experimental afterburning turbofans. Using lessons learned in the construction of the earlier VL Tuulenpyörre Heavy Jet Fighter's wings and intake arrangement it emerged as a fairly simple derivative design to its predecessor.

Unlike the VL Tuulenpyörre which was designed as a point-defense bomber interceptor with very short operational times, the VL Palonmyräkkä carries a significant amount of fuel internally, in its integral wingtip tanks and often auxilliary tanks on underwing pylons that allow for longer operational sorties.

The VL Palonmyräkkä could be considered as an early multi-role fighter as while it was designed for extended duration anti-bomber sorties it could tangle with fighters as it made a more stable gun platform than its predecessor with marginally superior maneuverability. Despite the immense power of the new experimental engine it did not prove to be as fast as the smaller turbojet - however even at 75% throttle (cruising speed) at 30,000 feet it was faster than the Salamointi at full throttle.

Aside from its three nose and two wing mounted MK 108 30 mm Auto-Cannons, its load outs were very mission specific. For strike roles it can be outfitted with two pods of 3 cm rockets, equating to 14 rockets, and a pair of 250 Lb. bombs or simply four 250 Lb. bombs. For reconnaissance/patrol it can carry four auxilliary tanks - not including the integral wingtip tanks. For bomber interception it typically carries two auxilliary tanks and two pods of 3 cm rockets but can be loaded with four pods of 3 cm rockets in the most dire of situations.

The new Palonmyräkkä has integrated a similar flap/trim/airbrake system to that of it's predecessor, which was an absolute necessity. Its small wing surface area makes its take-off speed and stall speed absurdly high. Thus once touch down is made the flaps are to be used as spoilers, while deploying airbrakes and conventional brakes. It has a far narrower track of gear which makes it somewhat dangerous on landings.

Flight Instructions:

- Lower flaps via VTOL and throttle to 100%. Take off is at approximately 230 mph, once at 300 mph or so, center the flaps.
- Climb to operating altitudes of 25-50 thousand feet; (The BFE150 or Jumo J.150V3 as I called it, is more fuel efficient and can reach higher speeds at these altitudes, when attacking ground targets, use zoom and doom tactics in which you attack ground targets and quickly escape the range of ground fire via vertical barrel rolls (pitch and roll) or jinking the rudder on the way back up.) Note that I did test her against the three ship task force and damaged two ships in two attack runs but bleeding off speed in low altitude evasive maneuvers prevented me from completing my second attack run due to the guided surface-to-air missiles. In dogfight mode she is quite lethal as once you get the nose lined up she remains a very stable gun platform and with three cannons amassed in the nose it makes for critically accurate gunfire. The AI still prefers to jink the rudder on head-on approaches but more often than not due to the lack of mobility inherant in an early style jet design it plunges into the water or ground.
- Use trim to maintain level flight or for slow climbs and/or dives.

Landing:

- On landing approach, throttle down to 50%, lower flaps to 75%, lower the landing gear and trim to a nose up attitude. Watch your' speed and altitude and keep the wings level, throttle up or apply AG1 for airbrakes as necessary. Deactivating AG1 will cause them to instantly retract as they are linked to trim. I cannot stress keeping the wings level enough. This aircraft has narrow track landing gear and can easily rock over onto one of its wingtip tanks! I also suggest jettisoning the rocket pods and auxilliary tanks if fuel supplies will allow the latter.
- The closer to the beginning of the strip you touchdown at the more likely the landing will be successful. With her high landing speed its essential to have enough room to come to a stop.
- Upon touchdown, quickly apply AG1 and raise the flaps all the way upward to serve as spoilers while leaving the trim alone. Hit the brakes which will throttle down to 0% and slow the aircraft down relatively quickly.

Role-Play Notations:

The Ilmavoimat still lacks a stellar high performance jet fighter that can compete with the maneuverability of the Salamointi thus it remains in service as a measure to protect the three jet fighters that have entered service both when engaging bombers and while on take-off and landing.

It seems that thus far the allies have paid little attention to Finland. This may be because Finland's War at the side of Germany began as a measure to repulse the Soviet aggressors, who were among the allies forces as a matter of enemy of ones enemy being a friend, or it may be because they simply do not view Finland as a threat. Despite this Finnish aircraft have been cautiously observing their 462 mile border with Norway as well as closely monitoring the airspace over the Baltic Sea, the Barents Sea and Sweden using both manned reconnaissance missions, Combat Air Patrols, Patrol Boats and coastal radar systems developed by the axis powers during the occupation of the United Kingdom.

Two of Finland's three armies have returned to pre-war Finnish borders, while the third continues their seige of the Winter Warriors. Eight reserve divisions created to utilize captured Soviet weapons, armored vehicles, aircraft and obsolescent/lend-leased German equipment have been split up and spread out across Finland to cover critical positions meanwhile two divisions have been sent into Soviet territory to support the third army in battling the Soviet remnants among the Byrranga Mountains and the critical fortified port cities on the Taymyr Peninsula in coordination with the Wermacht and Luftwaffe patrols and close air support.

Many of the Salamointi squadrons serve along side of Tuulenpyörre, Norppa and Palonmyräkkä squadrons - though they have trouble keeping up with the last, but several haved trained to operate independently as ad hoc close air support aircraft in Lapland on both the Swedish and Norwegian borders, fitted with underwing pylons for 3 cm rocket pods or 250 Lb. bombs.

Meanwhile according to rumors testing at an undisclosed location is ongoing for at least one series of prototypes. Information outside of the Finnish Ministry of Defense is sparse but the rumors suggest a high-performance heavy bomber is in the midst of trials. Other rumors suggest that a flying-boat or amphibious patrol bomber is the identity of the prototype undergoing trials. Where the alleged prototype might have been constructed and with what available manpower is a mystery both to Germany and allied intelligence given the shortage of manpower a year or so ago.

This aircraft was built for General360s Alternate WW2 Build Role-Play.