Saab 17
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| B 17 | |
|---|---|
| Saab B 17A in Danish colors. | |
| Type | bomber & reconnaissance |
| Manufacturer | Saab |
| Maiden flight | 1940-05-18 |
| Introduced | 1942 |
| Retired | 1950, Sweden 1968, Ethiopia |
| Primary user | Flygvapnet |
| Produced | 1941-1944 |
| Number built | 264 |
The Saab 17 was a Swedish bomber-reconnaissance aircraft.
Contents |
[edit] Development and service
The project first started in the end of the 1930s as the L 10 by ASJA, but after the merge with SAAB in 1937 it was named Saab 17. The wings were reinforced to make it possible to use it as a dive bomber. Since there was a shortage of engines the planes were flown to the destination where the engine was removed and reused for the next delivery. The plane was also made in three versions with different engines. The B 17A used a Swedish built Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp, the B 17B a Polish licence-built British Bristol Mercury XXIV, and the B 17C an Italian Piaggio P.XI.<ref name=avro>B 17 - SAAB 17. Swedish Bombers 1926-1959. Retrieved on 2006-05-06.</ref> It could be fitted with wheels, skis or floats. A unique feature of the Saab 17 was its use of the lowered landing gear assembly, with its large covers, as dive brakes.
The first test flight was on May 18, 1940 and first deliveries to Flygvapnet in 1942. However, the time of jets was coming and it had a short service history. When the planes ended service in 1947-1950 46 of them were sold to Ethiopia where they were in service until 1968.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (B 17A)
Data from Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II<ref name=jane>Bridgman, Leonard, ed. “The Saab-17.” Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. 201. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.</ref>
General characteristics<h3>
- Crew: two
- Length: 9.80 m (32 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 13.70 m (44 ft 11 in)
- Height: 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 28.5 m² (306 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,600 kg (5,720 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,970 kg (8,734 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G 14-cylinder radial engine, 882 kW (1,200 hp)
<h3>Performance<h3>
- Maximum speed: 435 km/h (272 mph)
- Range: 1,800 km (1,125 mi)
- Service ceiling: 8,700 m (28,500 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10 m/s (2,000 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 139 kg/m² (28 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 220 W/kg (0.14 hp/lb)
<h3>Armament<h3>
- 2× 8 mm ksp m/22F machine guns, fixed forward
- 1× 8 mm ksp m/22R flexible tail gun
- 500 kg (1,100 lb) of bombs
[edit] References
<references/>
[edit] Related content
<h3>Designation sequence<h3> B 16 - B 17 - B 18
