SAAB J 29 F 1/48

In 1946, the Swedish Air Force ordered three prototypes of the new jet fighter, the SAAB J 29. The initial prototype of the SAAB 29 Tunnan (Flying Barrel) made its first flight on September 1st 1948, with the British test pilot Robert Moore at the controls. Saab engineering team led by Lars Brising had been allowed to review German aeronautical research documents from the WW2 which clearly indicated that delta and swept-wing designs had the effect of “reducing drag dramatically as the aircraft approached the sound barrier. The Tunnan was powered by a Swedish license built DeHavilland Ghost DGT3 gas turbine engine named RM2 by company Svenska Flygmotor and armed with 4 powerful Bofors/m/47 20 mm (Hispano Mk V) aircraft guns. This made the SAAB J29 one of the most modern jet fighter in the world together with the American F-86 Sabre and the Russian Mig 15. Tunnan was the largest production run for any SAAB aircraft with 661 aircraft produced with 308 of them as –F version. The –F version include the -E version ”dog-tooth” wing and featured the afterburner equipped version of the Ghost/Svenska Flygmotor RM2B engine producing 25% more thrust than the standard RM2 engine. The J 29 was a fast and agile aircraft, serving effectively both as fighter, fighter-bomber, reconnaissance and target towing aircraft. The fighter version was retired from active service in 1965 in Sweden. 30 J 29F Tunnans were sold to Austria in 1961 where they remained in service until 1972. This kit depicts the final fighter version J 29F.