What makes the Viggen Iconic?

[renhanxue]

Yes, they also investigated the Draken. A test pilot was sent and got to fly both J 35A and the brand new J 35B prototype. The evaluation report is available online - relevant documents start on page 74, report from the test pilot starts on page 87. Later in the same file there's also a test report on the Mirage III by the same guy for easy comparison.

 

I think what really clinched it for the Mirage III was the much better range (with drop tanks, mind) - Australia is, uh, kinda huge.

[Pikey]

I heard there are people that were unaware of the Viggen at the time outside Sweden and I weep for them.

 

I suspect its about being interested in Military aviation at the right time, Mozart is still hanging on to some of his fans, but to believe he has to compete with Justin Beiber is difficult for some to understand.

 

The Viggen is not iconic, in truth it's terribly obscure outside Sweden. It is somewhat interesting from a technical standpoint, but is certainly not iconic. A truly iconic aircraft is one that most random people in any country on Earth would at least recognize, even if they can't identify it.

[Goblin]

I think what really clinched it for the Mirage III was the much better range (with drop tanks, mind) - Australia is, uh, kinda huge.

 

Wise decision not to buy the Draken then. It usually declares a fuel emergency at takeoff. ;)

[AdurianJ]

Wise decision not to buy the Draken then. It usually declares a fuel emergency at takeoff. ;)

 

The Danes had the longest Ranged Draken's the type got more internal and external fuel volume throughout it's development.

The J35A had the least fuel then the J35B got more internal volume.

The J35D which is a J35B avionics wise got more internal fuel but also a more powerfull engine that drank more.

The Danes bought the F35 version (yes the Danes will probably have had two aircraft called F35 in a few years) which increased the fuel load by throwing out much of the avionics like the radar and also redesigning the outer wings and other bits. This version had the same internal fuel as a J35D with it's two external tanks. The Danes also bought huge 1200L external tanks of which 2 was carried, these where bought back by Sweden and are now seen on the Gripen.

In Sweden the S35E recon Draken could carry 4 drop tanks but only the standard 525l ones but the Swedish tanks where capable of Supersonic flight.

The last Draken variant the J35J did not only get two extra pylons for AIM-9P3 sidewinders but also got wet wing pylons so 4 Drop tanks could be carried just like in the S35E.

[Goblin]

Yeah, it got better. But the early design philosophy was more like the Me-163 Komet rocket interceptor! Full speed ahead, intercept and kill the enemy. RTB was the secondary objective. Or so it seems! ;)

Strange, really, since they built a very combat capable aircraft in all other aspects.

[mattebubben]

Well i dont think the Draken was "That" short legged =P.

 

Sure with Afterburner on it started to run out of fuel very quickly

(but that is nothing different then other Fighter/Interceptors of the time like the F104 etc)

but with the External tank and mil power it should have "some" range (again not considerably worse then comparable aircraft)

 

But most of the Smaller Fighter Interceptors of the time period did not have great range (unless they had Air-Refuling capabilities).

 

 

And also Saab has always been very accommodating to customer nations when it comes to modifying the aircraft to suit their needs

(a great example of that being the Danish Draken variants)

so if the Australians where really interested in the Draken Saab could probably have done work to try to increase its range

(even if that took modifying the airframe to make space for more internal tanks etc or simply allowing for more or larger external tanks).

 

But when it comes down to it if they did not find the Draken to have any significant advantages over the mirage and the mirage better met their

range needs that might have been preferable to getting Saab to develop a new variant of the Draken for their needs

(as that could likely have been more expensive then ordering the Mirage IIIOs based on the already existing Mirage IIIE variant).

Edited December 30, 2016 by mattebubben

[AdurianJ]

Well i dont think the Draken was "That" short legged =P.

 

Sure with Afterburner on it started to run out of fuel very quickly

(but that is nothing different then other Fighter/Interceptors of the time like the F104 etc)

but with the External tank and mil power it should have "some" range (again not considerably worse then comparable aircraft)

 

But most of the Smaller Fighter Interceptors of the time period did not have great range (unless they had Air-Refuling capabilities).

 

 

And also Saab has always been very accommodating to customer nations when it comes to modifying the aircraft to suit their needs

(a great example of that being the Danish Draken variants)

so if the Australians where really interested in the Draken Saab could probably have done work to try to increase its range

(even if that took modifying the airframe to make space for more internal tanks etc or simply allowing for more or larger external tanks).

 

But when it comes down to it if they did not find the Draken to have any significant advantages over the mirage and the mirage better met their

range needs that might have been preferable to getting Saab to develop a new variant of the Draken for their needs

(as that could likely have been more expensive then ordering the Mirage IIIOs based on the already existing Mirage IIIE variant).

 

The J35A Draken had the same radar as the Mirage III later versions got better radars and datalinks. 2:nd nation after US Air Defence Command !

 

Here's how the Draken datalink worked it start at the PS-08 search radar in the bottom left

Edited December 30, 2016 by AdurianJ

[westr]

I find that Splinter camo iconic. I would look at the pictures in aeroplane books for hours as a kid and the Viggen would always stand out, its shape was very distinctive as well.

[snakey]

well, its a ship destroyer for starters, its also the first modern fighter to implement a canard design, which also makes it manoeuvrable