AirSkyBuster : Aircraft and Airplane

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SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 4)
SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 4. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 4.
The Viggen was powered by a single Volvo RM8 turbofan. This was essentially a licence-built variant of the Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine that powered commercial airliners of the 1960s, with an afterburner added for the Viggen. The airframe also incorporated a thrust-reverser to use during landings and land manoeuvres, which, combined with the aircraft having flight capabilities approaching a limited STOL-like performance, enabled operations from 500 m airstrips with minimal support. The thrust reverser could be pre-selected in the air to engage when the nose-wheel strut was compressed after touchdown. The Viggen was the first aircraft to feature both afterburners and thrust-reversers. Only the Viggen, Concorde and the Panavia Tornado featured both afterburners and thrust-reversers. During the 1980s, Viggen pilots gained the distinction of being able to achieve missile lock on American SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. This was accomplished by analyzing the Mach 3+ planes' predictable flight paths over the Baltic Sea. With the arrival of the new Saab JAS 39 Gripen in the late 1990s, the Viggen began to be phased out of Swedish service. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 4). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 4. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 4. The type was retired from frontline service in November 2005 with the last flight of any type occurring two years later. Though a highly regarded aircraft, the Viggen was not purchased by any additional countries despite being offered for export. This lack of sales was largely the result of Sweden's strict limits on arms exports to undemocratic regimes, international pressure against particular sales, as well as international pressure. The requirements from the Swedish Air Force dictated Mach 2 capability at high altitude and Mach 1 at low altitude. At the same time, short-field takeoff and landing performance was also required. Since the Viggen was developed initially as an attack aircraft instead of an interceptor (the Saab 35 Draken fulfilled this role), some emphasis was given to low fuel consumption at high subsonic speeds at low level for good range. With turbofan engines just emerging and indicating better fuel economy for cruise than turbojet engines, the former was favoured, since the latter were mainly limited by metallurgy development resulting from limitations in turbine temperature. Mechanical simplicity was also favoured, so the air intakes were simple D-section types with boundary layer splitter plates, while the fixed inlet had no adjustable geometry for improved pressure recovery. The disadvantage was that the required engine would be very large. In fact, at the time of introduction, it was the second largest fighter engine, with a length of 6.1 m and 1.35 m diameter; only the Tumansky R-15 was bigger. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 4). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 4. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 4.

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SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 3)
SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 3. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 3.
Saab 37 Viggen is a multi-role fighter, through upgrades still modern and with some almost unique features, in service with the Swedish air force in several versions, since 1971 and until after 2006. The name Viggen means The Thunderbolt, especially those resulting from the Norse god Thor's warhammer Mjölner. In 1952 studies were started to design a replacement for Saab Draken. "Project 1357" in 1954, was the first to have a canard layout (lots of other layouts were studied as well). I n 1961, PW JT8D-22 was the chosen engine to be locally built, with a locally designed afterburner and lots of material changes in the rest. In 1962 the design was frozen, and the prototype first flew in Feb 8:th 1967. During the 1960's, it was foreseen that the Swedish air force would purchase 800+ Viggens, but the final figure ended up at 329. In order to make the airframe smaller, it was early decided to replace the navigator with a good navigational computer. It's designed to withstand 12 G, but the limit in operation is 7 G. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 3). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 3. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 3. Emergency power is supplied by a ram air turbine just before the left wing leading edge, which extends automatically on hydraulic power failure, and just before touch down. (Earlier, it was also always deployed whenever the landing gear was down.) The canard doesn't contribute much lift in itself during normal flight, it acts more as a gigantic vortex generator for the main wing. During low speed flight, its rear edge flap can be lowered to increase lift and permit a high nose angle. The requirement was that the aircraft would be able to operate from 500 m runways. A short take-off run is possible due to the powerful engine (then, it was the most powerful installed in a fighter). Landing distance is reduced by several means: The HUD is used as a precision landing aid, making it possible to aim just 30 m in from the threshold; The landing gear thinks a landing sink rate of 5 m/s is normal, so landings are done without any flare; The thrust reverser is interconnected with the nose gear link, so it can be selected in the air and will operate when the nose is lowered. (It is not intended to be used in the air.) The aircraft must be servicable very quickly by concripts with relatively short training. Re-fueling and re-arming by 7 men, of which 6 are concripts, must take less than 10 min for the JA 37 Viggen. The time limits for reconnaissance and attack configured aircraft are 15 and 20 minutes. It is said that attack squadrons expect to fly 11 missions per aircraft and 24-hour period. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 3). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 3. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 3.

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SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 2)
SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 2. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 2.
Development of the Saab 37 Viggen (Thunderbolt) began in the mid-1950s as Sweden began to seek a replacement for the Saab 32 Lansen attack aircraft. Guided by noted designer Aarne Lakomaa, Saab sought to create an effective aircraft that would meet Sweden's unique strategic requirements. These included the ability to operate from short, improvised airstrips, such as reinforced roads, as well as be serviced and maintained by personnel with minimal training. In addition, the Swedish Air Force desired an aircraft capable of supersonic flight at low level and Mach 2.0 at high altitudes. In 1960, development of the new type was accelerated when Sweden concluded a defense agreement with the Eisenhower Administration which provided access to advanced American aeronautical technology. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 2). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 2. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 2. Having broken new ground with the double-delta wing on the early Saab 35 Draken, the company again defied convention in its new design by creating an aircraft featuring a delta wing which was augmented by a set of canards. Though a radical approach, the design concept was approved on September 28, 1962 and Saab pushed forward with building a prototype. This flew for the first time on February 8, 1967. Moving into production, 110 of the original AJ 37 Viggen design were built. Entering service on June 21, 1971, the first full squadron became active the following year. This was soon followed by a maritime strike and reconnaissance variant, dubbed the SH 37, which featured an optimized PS 371/A radar system. Twenty-six of this type were constructed, followed by the same number of a SF 37 reconnaissance variant. During the 1970s, work began to create a fighter/interceptor variant of the Viggen to complement the Saab 35 Draken. Designated the JA 37, this type possessed significantly enhanced avionics as well as a KCA 30mm Oerlikon cannon. Entering service in 1979, the JA 37 received numerous upgrades through its service life including the addition of encrypted data communication in 1985. This technology permitted the electronics of four fighters to be linked allowing one to designate a target for another's missiles. Sweden's use of this type of technology was far ahead of any other nation at the time. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 2). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 2. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 2.

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SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 1)
SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 1. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 1.
The Saab 37 Viggen (English: Thunderbolt) 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. The Viggen was initially developed as a replacement for the Saab 32 Lansen in the attack role and later the Saab 35 Draken as a fighter. The first studies were carried out between 1952 and 1957 involving the Finnish aircraft designer Aarne Lakomaa. Several different concepts were studied involving both single- and twin engines and also with separate lift engines, both simple and double delta wings and also with canard wings. Even VTOL designs were considered. The aim was to produce a robust aircraft with good short-runway performance that could be operated from numerous specially prepared roads and highways to reduce the vulnerability to attack in the event of war. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 1). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 1. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 1. Other requirements included supersonic ability at low level, Mach 2 performance at altitude, and the ability to make short landings at low angles of attack (to avoid damaging improvised runways). The aircraft was also designed from the beginning to be easy to repair and service, even for personnel without much training. To meet these design goals, Saab selected a radical configuration: a conventional delta wing with small, high-set canard wings. Canards have since become common in fighter aircraft, notably with the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS 39 Gripen and the IAI Kfir, but mainly for agility reasons rather than STOL capabilities. The final proposal was presented and accepted on 28 September 1962. Construction started in 1964, with a first prototype maiden flight on 8 February 1967. In 1960, the U.S. National Security Council, led by President Eisenhower, formulated a military security guarantee for Sweden. The U.S. promised to help the Swedish militarily in the event of a Soviet attack against Sweden; both countries signed a military-technology agreement. In what was known as the "37-annex", Sweden was allowed access to advanced U.S. aeronautical technology which made it possible to design and produce the Saab 37 Viggen much faster and cheaper than would otherwise have been possible. According to the doctoral research of Nils Bruzelius at the Swedish National Defence College, the reason for this officially unexplained U.S. support was the need to protect U.S. Polaris submarines deployed just outside the Swedish west coast against the threat of Soviet anti-submarine aircraft. However, Bruzelius' theory have been thoroughly debunked by Simon Moores and Jerker Widén. SAAB JA 37 Viggen (Wallpaper 1). SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter aircraft photo wallpaper gallery 1. SAAB JA 37 Viggen fighter airplane pictures and images collection 1.