Saab Tunnan
Encyclopedia
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.
, it was decided that Sweden needed a strong air defense built around the newly developed jet propulsion technology. Project "JxR" began in the final months of 1945 with two proposals from the SAAB
design team led by Lars Brising. The first, codenamed R101, was a cigar-shaped aircraft somewhat similar to the American P-80 Shooting Star
. The winning design however was the "barrel" design, codenamed R1001, which proved to be both faster and more agile.
The original R1001 was designed around a mostly straight wing, but after the Swedish engineers had obtained some German research data on swept-wing designs, the prototype was altered to incorporate a 25 degree sweep, first tested on a modified Saab Safir (designated Saab 201). A member of the Saab engineering team had been allowed to review German aeronautical documents stored in Switzerland. These files captured by the Americans in 1945 clearly indicated delta and swept-wing designs had the effect of "reducing drag dramatically as the aircraft approached the sound barrier." The SAAB 29 prototype flew for the first time on 1 September 1948. It was a small, chubby aircraft with a single central air intake, a bubble cockpit and a very thin swept-back wing. The test pilot was an Englishman, Robert A. "Bob" Moore, who went on to become the first managing director of Saab GB Ltd, UK, set up in 1960.
Moore described the aircraft as "on the ground an ugly duckling – in the air, a swift." Because of its rotund appearance, The Saab J 29 was quickly nicknamed "Flygande Tunnan" ("The Flying Barrel"). A total of 661 Tunnans were built from 1950 to 1956, making it the largest production run for any SAAB aircraft.
, Flygvapnet, primarily using the J 29, was ranked as the fifth most powerful air force in the world, after USA, USSR, UK and France.
The crash record in early service was poor, mainly due to the inexperience with swept-winged aircraft and the lack of a two seat, dual control Tunnan trainer variant: this meant that SAF fighter pilots could only be trained using two seat variants of the de Havilland Vampire
(a straight-winged jet), before going solo in a Tunnan.
The fighter version was retired from active service in 1965, but some aircraft were used for target towing up to 1974. The last official military flight was completed in August 1976 at the 50th anniversary air show of the Swedish Air Force.
A total of 30 Tunnans were sold to Austria
in 1961 where they remained in service until 1972.
for a UN
peacekeeping mission (ONUC), organized as the F 22 Wing of the Swedish Air Force
. It was reinforced by four J 29B and two S 29C (the photo reconnaissance version) in 1962. Most of the missions involved attacking ground targets with internal cannons as well as unguided rockets. No aircraft were lost in action despite large amounts of AAA. Consensus of the crews and foreign observers was that the Tunnan's capabilities were exceptional. (Their secessionist adversaries used a few Fouga Magister
s and other aircraft with relatively poor air combat capabilities.) The only aircraft lost was by a high-ranking officer who made a trial-run and crashed during an aborted takeoff. When ONUC was terminated in 1964, some of the Swedish aircraft were destroyed at their base, since they were no longer needed at home and the cost of taking them all back was deemed excessive.
J 29
J 29A
J 29B
A 29B
S 29C
J 29D
J 29E
J 29F
United Nations ONUC
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Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
designed and manufactured by Saab
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
in the 1950s. It was Sweden's second turbojet-powered combat aircraft, the first being the Saab 21R
Saab 21R
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andersson, Hans G. Saab Aircraft since 1937 . London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-831-3....
. Despite its rotund appearance, the J 29 was fast and agile, serving effectively in both fighter and fighter-bomber roles into the 1970s.
Design and development
In the aftermath of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was decided that Sweden needed a strong air defense built around the newly developed jet propulsion technology. Project "JxR" began in the final months of 1945 with two proposals from the SAAB
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
design team led by Lars Brising. The first, codenamed R101, was a cigar-shaped aircraft somewhat similar to the American P-80 Shooting Star
P-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1943 as a response to the German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, and delivered in just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying but...
. The winning design however was the "barrel" design, codenamed R1001, which proved to be both faster and more agile.
The original R1001 was designed around a mostly straight wing, but after the Swedish engineers had obtained some German research data on swept-wing designs, the prototype was altered to incorporate a 25 degree sweep, first tested on a modified Saab Safir (designated Saab 201). A member of the Saab engineering team had been allowed to review German aeronautical documents stored in Switzerland. These files captured by the Americans in 1945 clearly indicated delta and swept-wing designs had the effect of "reducing drag dramatically as the aircraft approached the sound barrier." The SAAB 29 prototype flew for the first time on 1 September 1948. It was a small, chubby aircraft with a single central air intake, a bubble cockpit and a very thin swept-back wing. The test pilot was an Englishman, Robert A. "Bob" Moore, who went on to become the first managing director of Saab GB Ltd, UK, set up in 1960.
Moore described the aircraft as "on the ground an ugly duckling – in the air, a swift." Because of its rotund appearance, The Saab J 29 was quickly nicknamed "Flygande Tunnan" ("The Flying Barrel"). A total of 661 Tunnans were built from 1950 to 1956, making it the largest production run for any SAAB aircraft.
Operational history
The J 29 was one of the first production fighters with a swept-back wing. It was fast and agile. The Tunnan set the world speed record on a 500 km (310.7 mi) closed circuit in 1954 at 977 km/h (607.05 mph). Two S 29C (reconnaissance variant) additionally set an international speed record of 900.6 km/h (559.4 mph) over a 1000 km (621.4 mi) closed-circuit course in 1955. In the 1950s, the Swedish Air ForceSwedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
, Flygvapnet, primarily using the J 29, was ranked as the fifth most powerful air force in the world, after USA, USSR, UK and France.
The crash record in early service was poor, mainly due to the inexperience with swept-winged aircraft and the lack of a two seat, dual control Tunnan trainer variant: this meant that SAF fighter pilots could only be trained using two seat variants of the de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine 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...
(a straight-winged jet), before going solo in a Tunnan.
The fighter version was retired from active service in 1965, but some aircraft were used for target towing up to 1974. The last official military flight was completed in August 1976 at the 50th anniversary air show of the Swedish Air Force.
A total of 30 Tunnans were sold to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1961 where they remained in service until 1972.
Tunnan's African war service
The Tunnan was the first Swedish jet aircraft to fight in combat. In 1961, five J 29Bs were stationed in the Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
for a UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping mission (ONUC), organized as the F 22 Wing of the Swedish Air Force
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
. It was reinforced by four J 29B and two S 29C (the photo reconnaissance version) in 1962. Most of the missions involved attacking ground targets with internal cannons as well as unguided rockets. No aircraft were lost in action despite large amounts of AAA. Consensus of the crews and foreign observers was that the Tunnan's capabilities were exceptional. (Their secessionist adversaries used a few Fouga Magister
Fouga Magister
The Fouga Magister is a 1950s French two-seat jet trainer. The related CM.175 Zéphyr was a carrier-capable version for the French Navy....
s and other aircraft with relatively poor air combat capabilities.) The only aircraft lost was by a high-ranking officer who made a trial-run and crashed during an aborted takeoff. When ONUC was terminated in 1964, some of the Swedish aircraft were destroyed at their base, since they were no longer needed at home and the cost of taking them all back was deemed excessive.
Variants
- Four prototypes built in 1949–1950.
J 29A
- Fighter, 224 built from 1951 to 1954; later series had wing-mounted dive brakes moved to the fuselage, ahead of the main landing gear doors.
J 29B
- Fighter, 332 built 1953–1955; featured 50% larger fuel capacity and underwing hardpoints to carry bombs, rockets and drop-tanks.
A 29B
- Same aircraft as the J 29B, but different use.
S 29C
- Reconnaissance ("S" was derived from Spaning; either scouting or reconnaissance in Swedish), 76 built from 1954 through 1956; five cameras mounted in a modified nose (no armament was carried). This variant primarily operated at low level and was differentiated by having dark brown and dark green camouflage on the topsides wherein other variants were unpainted.
J 29D
- Single prototype to test Ghost RM2A turbojet with 27.5 kN (2,800 kgp / 6,175 lbf) afterburning thrust; project abandoned in 1961.
J 29E
- Fighter, 29 built in 1955; incorporated a "dog-tooth" instead of wing slats.
J 29F
- Fighter, 308 aircraft converted from available stocks from 1954 to 1956; featured the afterburning Ghost and dog-tooth wing; all remaining aircraft were further modified in 1963 to carry a pair of US-designed AIM-9B Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missiles, built by SAAB under license as the "Rb 24."
Operators
- Austrian Air ForceAustrian Air ForceThe Austrian Air Force is a component part of the Austrian armed forces .-History:The Austrian Air Force was formed in May 1955 by the victorious Allied powers, subject to restrictions on its use of guided missiles...
- Swedish Air ForceSwedish Air ForceThe Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
- F 3 MalmslättF 3 MalmslättF 3 Malmslätt, Kungliga Östgöta Flygflottilj, Royal Östgöta Air Force Wing, or simply "F 3", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located at Malmen air base near Linköping in south-eastern Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
- F 4 FrösönF 4 FrösönF 4 Frösön, Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj, Royal Jämtland Air Force Wing, or simply "F 4", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located at Åre Östersund Airport outside Östersund on Frösön in the middle of Sweden....
- F 6 KarlsborgF 6 KarlsborgF 6 Karlsborg, Kungliga Västgöta Flygflottilj, Royal Västergötland Air Force Wing, or simply "F 6", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Karlsborg in south-central Sweden.dotabyte- History of the airbase :...
- F 7 SåtenäsF 7 SåtenäsF 7 Såtenäs, Skaraborgs Flygflottilj, Skaraborg Air Force Wing, or simply "F 7", is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Lidköping in south-central Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
- F 8 BarkarbyF 8 BarkarbyF 8 Barkarby, Kungliga Svea Flygflottilj, Royal Svealand Air Force Wing, or simply "F 8", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in Barkarby just north of the capital Stockholm on the east coast....
- F 9 SäveF 9 SäveF 9 Säve, Göta Flygflottilj, Göta Air Force Wing, or simply "F 9", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Gothenburg in south-west Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
- F 10 ÄngelholmF 10 ÄngelholmF 10 Ängelholm, Skånska Flygflottiljen, Scania Air Force Wing, or simply "F 10", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in southernmost Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
- F 11 NyköpingF 11 NyköpingF 11 Nyköping, Södermanlands Flygflottilj, Södermanland Air Force Wing, or simply "F 11", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in south-east Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
- F 12 KalmarF 12 KalmarF 12 Kalmar, Kalmar Flygflottilj, Kalmar Air Force Wing, or simply "F 12", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located on the south-east coast of Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
- F 13 NorrköpingF 13 NorrköpingF 13 Norrköping, Bråvalla Flygflottilj, Bråvalla Air Force Wing, or simply "F 13", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Norrköping in south-eastern Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
- F 15 SöderhamnF 15 SöderhamnF 15 Söderhamn, Hälsinge Flygflottilj, Royal Hälsinge Air Force Wing, or simply "F 15", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Söderhamn in northern Sweden.- See also :* Swedish Armed Forces* Swedish Air Force...
- F 16 UppsalaF 16 UppsalaF 16 Uppsala, Upplands Flygflottilj, Uppland Air Force Wing or simply "F 16" is a Swedish air force base located just north of Uppsala on the east coast of Sweden...
- F 21 LuleåF 21 LuleåF 21 Luleå, Norrbottens flygflottilj, Norrbotten Air Force Wing, or simply "F 21", is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in Luleå in northern Sweden.-External links:*...
- F 3 Malmslätt
United Nations ONUCUnited Nations Operation in the Congo
Opération des Nations unies au Congo, abbreviated ONUC, was a United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo that was established after United Nations Security Council Resolution 143 of July 14, 1960...
- Swedish Air ForceSwedish Air ForceThe Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
- F 22 Congo
Survivors
- J 29A, 29203 in Svedinos Bil- och Flygmuseum, Ugglarp, Sweden
- J 29F, 29392 is displayed on the roof of the airport terminal building at Vienna-Schwechat Airport, wearing false marks as 'H yellow' but it was once really 'I yellow'.
- J 29B, 29398 in the Swedish Air Force MuseumSwedish Air Force MuseumThe Swedish Air Force Museum is located at Malmen Airbase in Malmslätt, just outside of Linköping, Sweden. Malmen is where Baron Carl Cederström, nicknamed the "Flyer Baron" founded his flying school in 1912. Malmen Airbase is home to the Royal Swedish Airschool operating SAAB 105 jettrainers...
at F 3 MalmslättF 3 MalmslättF 3 Malmslätt, Kungliga Östgöta Flygflottilj, Royal Östgöta Air Force Wing, or simply "F 3", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located at Malmen air base near Linköping in south-eastern Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
, just outside of LinköpingLinköpingLinköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
, Sweden - J 29F, 29441 displayed on a pillar at highway E4 outside LinköpingLinköpingLinköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
, Sweden - J 29F, 29443, is near the main-gate to the military area at Linz-Horching airport, Austria as 'M yellow'.* J 29F, 29447 in Linz, Austria as 'B yellow'.
- J 29F, 29446, is displayed at the Fahrzeug-Technik-Luftfahrt Museum as Bad Ischl, Austria as 'I red'.
- J 29F, 29449, in the Militarluftfahrtausstellung museum at Zeltweg, Austria as 'F yellow'.
- J 29F, 29541, in the Österreichisches Luftfahrt-Museum, Graz-Thalerhof in AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
as 'H yellow'. - J 29F, 29543 at the Italian Air Force museumItalian Air Force MuseumThe Italian Air Force Museum is an aircraft museum at Vigna di Valle, on the Lake Bracciano , central Italy. It is operated by the Aeronautica Militare.- Propeller aircraft :* Ansaldo AC.2* Ansaldo SVA 5* Blériot XI* Caproni Ca.3* Caproni Ca.100...
at Vigna di ValleBraccianoBracciano is a small town in the Italian region of Lazio, 30 km northwest of Rome. The town is famous for its volcanic lake and for a particularly well-preserved medieval castle Castello Orsini-Odescalchi...
. - J 29F, 29560, at Hubhof, Austria, in an anonymous blue/white colour scheme, but was once 'E yellow'.
- J 29F, 29566, is displayed at the Technisches Museum fur Industrie und Gewerbe in Vienna, Austria as 'O yellow'.
- J 29F, 29575, in the Swedish Air Force MuseumSwedish Air Force MuseumThe Swedish Air Force Museum is located at Malmen Airbase in Malmslätt, just outside of Linköping, Sweden. Malmen is where Baron Carl Cederström, nicknamed the "Flyer Baron" founded his flying school in 1912. Malmen Airbase is home to the Royal Swedish Airschool operating SAAB 105 jettrainers...
. at the Angelholms Flygmuseum on the former Scania Air Force Wing F 10 ÄngelholmF 10 ÄngelholmF 10 Ängelholm, Skånska Flygflottiljen, Scania Air Force Wing, or simply "F 10", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in southernmost Sweden.- History of the airbase :... - J 29F, 29588, is displayed at the entrance to the military area at Graz-Thalerhof in AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, as 'D red'. - J 29F, 29589, is displayed at the side at Route 152 at Hillerstorp, Sweden.
- J 29F, 29621, with a collector at Gotene, Sweden.
- J 29F, 29624, is displayed at the Aeroseum in an underground cavern at Gothenburg/Save airport.
- J 29F, 29640 Midland Air MuseumMidland Air MuseumThe Midland Air Museum is situated just outside the village of Baginton in Warwickshire, England, and is adjacent to Coventry Airport. The museum includes the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre , where many exhibits are on display in a large hangar...
, CoventryCoventryCoventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, Only example currently in the UK. - J 29F, 29657 National Air and Space MuseumNational Air and Space MuseumThe National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It was established in 1976. Located in Washington, D.C., United States, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and...
, Only example currently in the US. - J 29F, 29666 in Söderhamn/ F15 Flygmuseum, Söderhamn, Sweden
- J 29F, 29670 in the Swedish Air Force MuseumSwedish Air Force MuseumThe Swedish Air Force Museum is located at Malmen Airbase in Malmslätt, just outside of Linköping, Sweden. Malmen is where Baron Carl Cederström, nicknamed the "Flyer Baron" founded his flying school in 1912. Malmen Airbase is home to the Royal Swedish Airschool operating SAAB 105 jettrainers...
Airworthy as SE-DXB. Maintained by Swedish Air Force Historic Flight. Based Skaraborg Air Force Wing F 7 SåtenäsF 7 SåtenäsF 7 Såtenäs, Skaraborgs Flygflottilj, Skaraborg Air Force Wing, or simply "F 7", is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Lidköping in south-central Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
. - S 29C, 29945, is displayed at a car dealers at Kareby, Sweden.
- S 29C, 29970, is displayed at the Flyvapenmuseum at Linkopping, Sweden,
- S 29C, 29974, is displayed at the Västerås Flygmuseum, Västerås, Sweden
Specifications (Saab J 29F Tunnan)