Saab 21R
| Saab 21R | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Saab 21R in flight | |
| Role | Fighter and attack aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Saab AB |
| Designer | Frid Wänström |
| First flight | 10 March 1947 |
| Introduction | 1950 |
| Retired | 1956 |
| Status | retired |
| Primary user | Swedish Air Force |
| Produced | 1950–1952 |
| Number built | 64 |
| Developed from | Saab 21 |
The Saab 21R was a Swedish twin-boom fighter/attack aircraft made by Saab. It was a jet-powered development of the piston-engined Saab 21 which along with the Russian Yakovlev Yak-15 was one of the only two jet fighters successfully converted from a piston-powered aircraft.
As a fighter, its service designation in the Swedish Air Force was J 21R, and saw service in the late 1940s.
In early 1945, Saab launched a project to determine how to provide the J 21A with a jet engine to get the experience of jet engines and flying at high speeds. The goal was to catch up with the development of jet aircraft, which were moving ahead fast in England, where, among others, de Havilland already had the de Havilland Vampire in production.
When the project started, the engine choice was an open question. However, as the project progressed it became possible to buy a "Goblin 2" jet engine from de Havilland Engine Company, along with the license to manufacture in Sweden. This engine became the Air Force's first Jet Engine, RM1. The rebuilt J 21A received type designation J21R. First flight with Saab's first jet took place on 10 March 1947.
Because of the engine exhaust position, the stabilizer had to be raised, which meant that the tail had to be redesigned. Measures to improve the aerodynamic design of the aircraft were carried out, for example, curved front glass in the canopy and a refined wing leading edge. Airbrakes were introduced in the form of an upward and a downward flap on the outer wing's trailing edge. Ejection seat improvements were made to enable ejections at high speed. Fuel volume increased significantly with the use of tanks in the middle wing and large wingtip tanks.
The attack version A 21R added 14.5 cm attack rockets placed under the middle wing. Furthermore, an alternative external machine gun pod was created. A big sensation was that it was possible to fire all 13 weapons at the same time. This was an interesting "sensation" for the pilot as well.
...
Wikipedia