Saab 18
| Saab 18 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
June 19, 1942 |
| Commissioning: |
June 1944 |
| Number of pieces: |
242 |
The Swedish Saab 18 was a twin-engine military aircraft from the late 1930s. When it appeared in 1942, it was considered to be one of the fastest combat aircraft in its class, with a top speed of almost 600 km / h.
development
Around 1939, following an official tender under the project name L-11, construction work began on a reconnaissance aircraft with a middle-decker design. It had a generously glazed cabin, a vertical tail unit integrated in two end plates and was made of metal. Originally, the Saab 18 was supposed to be the first Swedish aircraft with a nose wheel landing gear, but in the end it was given a conventional rear wheel landing gear. However, the development was delayed because the Flygvapnet determined that the model should also be used as a bomb and dive fighter aircraft and therefore some changes had to be made.
It was not until June 19, 1942 that the first of two prototypes Saab 18A took off for its maiden flight. The Twin Wasp licensed engines used turned out to be too weak; nevertheless, a first series of 60 machines was equipped with it for lack of other alternatives. It comprised the reconnaissance version S 18A and the bomber version B 18A and began service in June 1944. The last copies of the S 18A received radar equipment.
At the same time, the German engine DB 605B , built under license, became available and a new series of dive bombers was launched, the prototype of which B 18B flew for the first time on June 10, 1944. 120 aircraft of this version left the production halls.
The last version, the T 18B , was designed as a torpedo bomber and flew for the first time on July 7, 1945. It was aerodynamically more sophisticated and had been reduced to two instead of the original three crew members. As a special feature, it was equipped with ejection seats. Under the hull was a forty-shot 57 mm Bofors cannon as offensive armament. 62 units were built and used from 1948.
A total of 242 Saab 18s were built, some of which were in active service until 1956.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data (Saab 18B) |
|---|---|
| Conception | Medium bomb and dive fighter aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Svenska Aeroplan shareBolaget |
| Years of construction | 1942-1948 |
| crew | 3 (pilot, navigator / gunner, bombardier) |
| length | 13.23 m |
| span | 17.00 m |
| height | 4.35 m |
| Wing area | 43.75 m² |
| Wing extension | 6.6 |
| Takeoff mass | maximum 8800 kg |
| drive | two 12-cylinder V-engines Daimler-Benz DB 605B (license Sweden) |
| power | 1,085 kW (1,475 PS) each |
| Top speed | 575 km / h at an optimal altitude |
| Service ceiling | 9800 m |
| Range | maximum 2600 km |
| Armament | one rigid 7.9 mm MG M / 22F two movable 13.2 mm MG M / 39A air-to-air missiles at underwing outstations |
| Bomb load | 1500 kg in the internal bomb bay |
