Saab 21R
| Saab 21R | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Jet-powered fighter aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
March 10, 1947 |
| Commissioning: |
1949-1957 |
| Number of pieces: |
60 |
The Saab 21R was a Swedish fighter aircraft with jet propulsion , which was placed at the end of the 1940s into service. It was based on the Saab 21 , a two-hull fighter with a pusher propeller. In order to be able to implement the new jet propulsion concept at short notice, four Saab 21A-1s were initially modified so that a De Havilland Goblin 3 engine could be installed. For this purpose, the air intake of the engine was changed and the elevator was set higher so that it was not directly in the area of the thrust jet. The design of the Saab 21R was similar to the British De Havilland Vampire .
The first flight took place on March 10, 1947 . The Swedish Air Force initially ordered 120 machines. 30 machines were of the type 21RA; they received the Goblin 3 engine from De Havilland. Another 30 machines of the type 21RB received the SFA RM1, which was a Goblin 3 engine built under license by SFA.
The machines were delivered to the F-10 squadron in Ängelholm . It soon became apparent that the lack of a pressurized cabin meant that it could only be used as a fighter to a very limited extent. The order was then reduced to 60 machines and all machines were handed over to the F 7 in Såtenäs and used as a ground attack aircraft from 1949. The new name was A21R.
The Saab 21R was in use until 1957. A number of machines served as training aircraft at the end of their service life.
A copy can still be seen today in the Aviation Museum in Linköping .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 pilot |
| length | 10.55 m |
| span | 11.37 m |
| height | 2.90 m |
| Empty mass | 3090 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 5615 kg |
| Range | 450 km (with additional tank) |
| Service ceiling | 12,000 m |
| Top speed | 820 km / h |
| Engine | 1 × SFA RM 1 or De Havilland Goblin 3 RM 1A with 1500 kp thrust |
| Armament |
