Saab 37 Viggen | |
|---|---|
| Paese | Svezia |
| Ruolo | Attacco, caccia, ricognizione |
| Primo volo | 8 febbraio 1967 |
| Costruito | 329 |
Le Saab 37 Viggen ("Thunderbolt") è un aereo da combattimento svedese monoposto monomotore a corto-medio raggio. I lavori di sviluppo del tipo iniziarono a Saab nel 1952 e, in seguito alla selezione di una configurazione radicale dell'ala delta, l'aereo risultante eseguì il suo primo volo l'8 febbraio 1967 ed entrò in servizio il 21 giugno 1971. Il Viggen ha la particolarità di essere il primo progetto canard ad essere prodotto in quantità. Il Viggen è stato anche il caccia più avanzato d'Europa fino all'introduzione del Panavia Tornado in servizio operativo nel 1981
fonte: Saab 37 Viggen su Wikipedia
| SAAB AJ.37-1 prototype Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 85 |
| SK 37 Viggen proto Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Inconsapevole |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 64 |
Vedi anche:
| Saab 37 Viggen SKE Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Inconsapevole |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 20 |
The “Roadway” Fighter
Le SAAB AJ 37 Viggen (Thunderbolt) was a revolutionary multi-role combat aircraft designed to fulfill Sweden’s unique “Bas 60” defense doctrine. In the event of a Soviet invasion, the Swedish Air Force planned to operate from dispersed road bases—standard highways converted into temporary runways. The Viggen was engineered for STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) performance, allowing it to land on a 500-meter stretch of road and be refueled and rearmed by conscripts in less than 20 minutes.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (AJ 37) |
|---|---|
| Ruolo | Attack Fighter (Attack-Jakt) |
| Equipaggio | 1 (Pilot) |
| First Flight | February 8, 1967 |
| Motopropulsore | 1 × Volvo Flygmotor RM8A (Licensed Pratt & Whitney JT8D) |
| Afterburning Thrust | 115.7 kN (26,015 lbf) |
| Velocità massima | Mach 2.1 (2,231 km/h at altitude) |
| Landing Speed | 220 km/h (Incredible for a Mach 2 jet) |
| Hardpoints | 7 (Up to 7,000 kg of ordnance) |
Revolutionary Aerodynamics: Canards and Reversers
- Canard Configuration: The Viggen was the first mass-produced fighter to utilize a fixed canard wing with flaps. This created extra lift at low speeds, allowing the aircraft to maintain a high angle of attack for short landings without stalling.
- Thrust Reverser: To stop on short, icy Swedish roads, the Viggen was equipped with a massive thrust reverser (similar to commercial airliners). The pilot could engage it just before touchdown, allowing the jet to stop in roughly 500 meters. It could even “back up” on its own power.
- Double Delta Wing: The main wing used a double-delta shape to provide stability at supersonic speeds while maintaining the lift needed for low-altitude attack missions.
- The RM8 Engine: Volvo Flygmotor took a civilian airliner engine (from the DC-9/727) and added a massive, Swedish-designed afterburner, creating one of the most powerful fighter engines of its era.
The Electronic Frontier
- CK37 Computer: The Viggen was the first aircraft in the world to use an integrated circuit-based central computer. This handled navigation, fire control, and fuel monitoring, allowing a single pilot to perform the work usually requiring two.
- Head-Up Display (HUD): To help pilots land on narrow roads in bad weather, the Viggen featured a sophisticated HUD that projected a “virtual runway” or landing pole for the pilot to follow.
- The “Splinter” Camouflage: Perhaps the most iconic paint scheme in aviation history, the four-color “M90” splinter pattern was designed to hide the aircraft against the Swedish forests when viewed from above by Soviet satellites or aircraft.
Varianti
While the AJ 37 was the ground-attack version, the airframe evolved into the SF 37 (Reconnaissance), the SK 37 (Two-seat trainer), and the ultimate version, the JA 37 Jaktviggen (Interceptor), which featured a more powerful engine and a built-in 30mm Oerlikon KCA cannon.
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