My visit to a military aircraft museum
By Falk 4 Comments
In July I visited a military aircraft museum in Söderhamn (Sweden) and took a bunch of pictures of the planes there. These are the planes on display in order of manufacturing year.
SK50 (SAAB 91 Safir)
The Saab 91 Safir (Swedish: "sapphire") is a three (91A, B, B-2) or four (91C, D) seater, single engine trainer aircraft. The Safir was built by Saab AB in Linköping, Sweden, (203 aircraft) and by De Schelde in Dordrecht, Netherlands(120 aircraft).
J21 (SAAB 21)
The SAAB 21 was a Swedish fighter/attack aircraft from SAAB that first took to the air in 1943. It was described as a very efficient weapons platform. It was designed as a twin boom pusher configuration, where the propeller is mounted in the rear of the fuselage, pushing the aircraft forward.
J28 A/B (de Havilland Vampire)
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served with front line RAF squadrons until 1953 and continued in use as a trainer until 1966, although generally the RAF relegated the Vampire to advanced training roles in the mid-1950s and the type was generally out of RAF service by the end of the decade. The Vampire also served with many air forces worldwide, setting aviation firsts and records.
The Swedish Air Force purchased its first batch of 70 FB 1 Vampires in 1946, looking for a jet to replace the already outdated SAAB 21 and J 22s of its fighter force. The aircraft was designated J 28A and was assigned to the F 13 Norrköping Wing. It provided such good service that it was selected as the backbone of the fighter force. A total of 310 of the more modern FB.50, designated J 28B, were purchased in 1949. The last one was delivered in 1952, after which all piston-engined fighters were decommissioned. In addition, a total of 57 two-seater DH 115 Vampires called J 28C were used for training.
The Swedish Vampires were retired as fighters in 1956 and replaced with J 29 (SAAB Tunnan) and J 34 (Hawker Hunter). The last Vampire trainer was retired in 1968. All Vampire warbirds being flown in Sweden today originate from the Swiss Air Force.
J29 (SAAB 29 Tunnan)
The Saab 29, popularly called Flygande tunnan ("The Flying Barrel"), was a Swedish fighter designed and manufactured by Saab in the 1950s. It was Sweden's second turbojet-powered combat aircraft, the first being the Saab 21R. Despite its rotund appearance, the J 29 was fast and agile, serving effectively in both fighter and fighter-bomber roles into the 1970s.
SK60 (SAAB 105)
The Saab 105 is an aircraft developed in the early sixties as a private venture by Saab for the Swedish Air Force. It is a high-wing, twin engine trainer aircraft. The Swedish Air Force designation is SK 60. It first entered service in 1967 to replace the De Havilland Vampire. Originally, it featured two Turbomeca Aubisque low bypass turbofan engines, licence-manufactured by Volvo Flygmotor as the RM 9. An updated version is equipped with the Williams International FJ44, designated RM 15. A total number of 150 aircraft were bought by the Swedish Air Force, and another 40 were exported to Austria, designated Saab 105 OE.
The Saab 105 is also the aircraft used by Swedish Air Force display team Team 60 and was used by the Austrian Air Force display teams "Karo As" and "Silver Birds".
A 32 Lansen
The Saab 32 Lansen (Swedish: "lance") was a two-seat, high transsonic attack aircraft produced by SAAB from 1955 to 1960 for the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet). During its long operational life, the Saab 32 also served as a fighter, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and a target-tug aircraft.
AJSH 37 Viggen
The Saab 37 Viggen (Swedish: "(thunder)bolt") was a Swedish single-seat, single-engine, short-medium range fighter and attack aircraft, manufactured between 1970 and 1990. Several variants were produced to perform the roles of all-weather fighter-interceptor, ground-attack and photo-reconnaissance, as well as a two-seat trainer.
Also, here's me next to a Huey!
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