View source for Saab Safari

{{Short description|Trainer aircraft}}
{{more footnotes|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = MFI-15 Safari
 |image = File:RNoAF Saab MFI-15 Safari 806 Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 01.jpg
 |caption = A [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]] Saab Safari 
 |type = [[Trainer aircraft#Basic training|Primary trainer]]
 |manufacturer = [[Saab AB]]
 |design_group= [[Malmö Flygindustri]]
 |designer = <!-- Only appropriate for one-person designers, not project leaders or chief designers -->
 |first_flight = 26 February 1971
 |introduction = 1972
 |status = Active
 |primary_user = [[Danish Air Force]]
 |more_users = [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]] <br/>[[Pakistan Air Force]]
 |produced = 1971–1979
 |number_built = 462
 |developed_from = [[Malmö MFI-9 Junior]]
 |variants = [[PAC MFI-17 Mushshak]]
}}

'''Saab MFI-15 Safari''', also known as the '''Saab MFI-17 Supporter''', is a propeller-powered basic trainer aircraft used by several air forces.

==Development and design==
On 11 July 1969 Saab flew the prototype (SE-301) of a two/three-seat civil/military trainer or general utility aircraft allocated the designation Saab-MFI 15. Developed at [[Malmö Flygindustri]], it was powered by a 119&nbsp;kW [[Avco]] Lycoming IO-320-B2 flat-four engine and with a conventional low-set tailplane. The latter was later modified to a T-tail configuration to minimise damage when operating from rough airfields.

On 26 February 1971 the prototype was flown with the more powerful [[Avco]] [[Lycoming O-360|Lycoming IO-360-A1B6]] air-cooled  [[flat-4]] piston engine, which became the standard powerplant for the production version, now designated as the Saab Safari. A braced shoulder-wing monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear, available optionally with tail-wheel landing gear, it provides side-by-side enclosed accommodation for two and has dual controls as standard. It has [[forward-swept wing]]s so the wing root does not obscure the pilots’ view to the side. This design constraint applies also to the [[ARV Super2]] and the [[Bölkow Bo 208]] Junior, the latter a license-built version of the [[Malmö MFI-9]] Junior.

A military version designated originally Saab-MFI 17 was flown on 6 July 1972 and differed from the Safari by being equipped more specifically for use as a military trainer, or for artillery observation or forward air control and liaison.; this version was later named Saab Supporter. In August 1978 Saab flew a prototype version of the Safari with a 157&nbsp;kW Continental flat-six turbocharged engine; designated Safari TS, it did not enter production. A trainer based on the Safari's design was built in kit form for assembly in Pakistan as the Mushshak, with 92 aircraft delivered to the [[Pakistani Air Force]]. A later batch of 120 aircraft was built entirely in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book|last=Blood|first=Peter R.|title=Pakistan: A Country Study|date=1996|publisher=Diane|isbn=9780788136313|page=298|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DRMTO7mn7hIC&pg=PA298}}</ref>

Of the 250 fully assembled aircraft built by Saab, the majority were bought by private fliers. Including the 212 Pakistani CKD or locally built aircraft, a total of 462 versions of the Safari were produced. The [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]] purchased their Safaris in 1981. Today 16 of the aircraft are stationed at [[Bardufoss Air Station]].

A variant with a stretched wing made of composite materials, the MFI-18, was tested during the 1980s in Sweden. Also fitted with provision for [[ski]]s, this version never went into production. The supporter was also used as a highly efficient COIN aircraft, Experience with the earlier MFI 9B Minicom during the [[Biafran Civil War]] encouraged Saab to develop the Supporter as a close support aircraft carrying an assortment of underwing stores including rockets and gun pods.

The number of Saab Safari in use as of 2022, together with its Pakistani successors (the [[MFI-17 Mushshak]] and [[MFI-395 Super Mushshak]]), is 477, making it one of the most commonly used aircraft for military training in the world.<ref name=flightglobal>{{cite web|title=2022 World Air forces|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=83735|page=11|quote=Flight International ranked it as the 6th most commonly used after the T-6, F-16, Hawk, T-38 and L-39.}}</ref>

==Variants==
*'''MFI-15 Safari''' – original civilian variant.
*'''MFI-17 Supporter''' – Saab's designation for the military variant, Danish designation '''T-17'''.
*'''Saab Safari TS''' – a prototype fitted with a 157&nbsp;kW (210&nbsp;hp) turbocharged piston engine.
*'''[[MFI-17 Mushshak]]''' – improved version of MFI-17 Supporter manufactured by [[Pakistan Aeronautical Complex]] under license.
*'''[[PAC Super Mushshak]]''' – upgraded Pakistan-manufactured variant of the [[MFI-17 Mushshak]].

==Operators==

===MFI-17 Supporter===
[[File:T-405 RIAT Bthebest.JPG|thumb|T-17 of the Royal Danish Air Force at RIAT 2010.]]
{{DEN}} 
* [[Royal Danish Air Force]] – 32<ref name="Schrøder">Schrøder, Hans (1991). "Royal Danish Airforce". Ed. Kay S. Nielsen. Tøjhusmuseet, 1991, p. 1–64. {{ISBN|87-89022-24-6}}.</ref>
{{NOR}} 
* [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]] – 16
{{PAK}} 
* [[Pakistan Air Force]] – 28 delivered by Saab, 92 assembled from [[Knock-down kit|knock down kits]]

====Former operators====
{{flagcountry|Sierra Leone}} 
* [[Military of Sierra Leone#Sierra Leone.27s Air Arm|Sierra Leone Armed Forces]] – 2 
{{ZAM}} 
* [[Zambia Air Force]] – 20

==Specifications (Safari)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77<ref name="jawa76 p163-4">{{Harvnb|Taylor| 1976|pp=163–164}}</ref>
|prime units?=met 
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=2 (pilot and student)
|capacity=1 passenger
|length m=7.00
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=8.85
|span ft=
|span in=
|height m=2.60
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=11.90
|wing area sqft=
|empty weight kg=646
|empty weight lb=
|gross weight kg=1200
|gross weight lb=
|fuel capacity={{convert|190|L|impgal USgal|abbr=on}}
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Lycoming O-360|Lycoming IO-360-A1B6]]
|eng1 type=air-cooled [[flat-four]] piston engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=200<!-- prop engines -->

|prop blade number=2<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Hartzell HC-C2YK-4F/FC7666A-2 constant speed propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=236
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at sea level
|cruise speed kmh=208<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed kts=
|stall speed kmh=107
|stall speed note=flaps down, power off
|never exceed speed kmh=365
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|endurance=5 hr 10 min
|ceiling m=4100
|ceiling ft=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=807
|more performance=*'''Take-off run to 15 m (50 ft):''' {{convert|385|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*'''Landing run from 15 m (50 ft):''' {{convert|390|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|see also=
||related=
* [[Malmö MFI-9]]
* [[PAC MFI-17 Mushshak]]
* [[PAC Super Mushshak]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[ARV Super2]]
* [[Malmö MFI-9]]
* [[Saab 91 Safir]]
* [[Scottish Aviation Bulldog]]
* [[Valmet L-70 Vinka]]
|lists=
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

*{{cite book|last=Taylor|first=John W. R. |authorlink=John W. R. Taylor|title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77 |year=1976 |publisher=Jane's Yearbooks |location=London |isbn=0-354-00538-3}}

==External links==
{{commons category inline|Saab Safari}}

{{Andreasson aircraft}}
{{Saab aircraft}}
{{PAC aircraft}}

[[Category:Malmö aircraft|MFI-15]]
[[Category:Saab aircraft|15]]
[[Category:1970s Swedish military trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Shoulder-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Cruciform tail aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1971]]
[[Category:Forward-swept-wing aircraft]]