SAAB 35 DRAKEN

The Saab 35 Draken is more than just a fighter aircraft; it is a part of Sweden's aviation heritage and a symbol of the country's engineering prowess. The aircraft holds a special place in the hearts of many aviation enthusiasts and historians.

This single-engine fighter jet, featuring a unique double delta wing, was developed by Saab AB for the Swedish Air Force.
Draken became the first true supersonic aircraft in Western Europe and was in military service for over 40 years across several European countries. Its first flight took place in 1955, and it entered service in 1960. With its impressive performance and distinctive design, Draken has left a lasting mark on military aviation history.

The name "Draken" comes from its shape when viewed from above, resembling a "flying kite,"( and has nothing to do with fire-breathing mythical creatures, much to some people’s disappointment). [TN: "In Swedish, 'drake' can mean both 'dragon' and 'kite', with the latter also being referred to as a 'flying dragon'.]

In the 1950s, Sweden recognized the need for an efficient fighter jet to intercept nuclear-armed bombers. The aircraft had to be equipped with radar, have supersonic capabilities, long range, and the ability to carry the necessary armaments. Erik Bratt served as the chief designer, and his team included several experts in various fields. The design choice fell on a slim fuselage with a double delta wing, which provided excellent flight characteristics at both high and low speeds.

Draken proved to be capable not only at high altitudes but also at lower flight levels.
It was the first aircraft to perform the advanced short parade/cobra maneuver, a signature move for the aircraft.

During development, a risk of superstall was identified, where the aircraft, at an extremely high angle of attack, would lose lift and fall uncontrollably. This led to special pilot training in handling this phenomenon being integrated into the flight training programs.

The first prototype of Draken flew on October 25, 1955, and the first production version, the J 35A, was delivered in 1959.

On January 15, 1960, Draken became the first Swedish-made aircraft to fly at Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).

A total of 644 Draken aircraft were built, serving in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Austria until 2005.

Denna video visar inte museets exemplar (som icket är i flygdugligt skick), men ger en känsla av hur skickligt utformat Draken är.  

Saab 35 Draken

Manufacturer
Saab AB

Length
15,34 m 

Height
3,89 m

Wing span
9,42 m 

Wing area
49,2 m²

Weight (empty)
8,25 ton

Maximum speed
Mach 2

Maximum altitude
19 995 m 

Payload capacity 
11,4 ton

Transport range
1763 km

Climb rate
10 500 m/min

Engine (Engines) 
Volvo Flygmotor RM 6C (Rolls-Royce Avon 300 with axial compressor and afterburner)

Trust
78,4 kN with afterburner

Fixed armament 
Standard armament: 1-2 x 30 mm Akan m/55 Akan m/55
90 rounds per cannon
Training armament: 1-2 x12,7 mm Akan m/39
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