FFVS J 22

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The FFVS J 22 was a Swedish single-engine fighter aircraft developed for the Swedish Air Force during World War II.

Development

At the onset of World War II, the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) was equipped with largely obsolete Gloster Gladiator (J 8) biplane fighters. To augment this, Sweden ordered 120 Seversky P-35 (J 9) and 144 Vultee P-66 Vanguard (J 10) aircraft from the United States.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". In October 1940, the United States declared an embargo against delivering the remainder of the orders to Sweden (60 P-35s had been delivered).Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Flygvapnet suddenly faced a shortage of modern fighters. Several other foreign alternatives were considered: the Soviet Polikarpov I-16 and I153 were considered obsolete, the Finnish VL Myrsky was rejected due to its all-wooden construction and while Japan offered the Mitsubishi A6M, delivery from Japan was impractical.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". A batch of Fiat CR.42 Falco (J 11) biplanes and Reggiane Re.2000 Falco (J 20) were eventually purchased but this was clearly an interim solution.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

It was decided to design a new fighter to meet FlygvapnetTemplate:'s needs. As Saab was running at full capacity building its single-engine Saab 17 and twin-engined Saab 18 bombers, a new organisation was set up to design and build the new aircraft, the Kungliga Flygförvaltningens Flygverkstad i Stockholm ("Royal Air Administration Aircraft Factory in Stockholm", FFVS). The design team would be led by Bo Lundberg.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

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This was one of the finest aircraft that I have ever flown. The responsiveness of the controls and overall handling was exceptionally nice. It was not a high altitude fighter but up to about 5000 m (16,000 ft) it could hold its own very well. We flew mock dog fights with P-51 Mustangs and they could not catch us below 4000 m (13,000 ft) but if the fight was higher than that we had to be very careful. At altitudes above 6000 m (19,500 ft) it was getting sluggish and at 9000 m (29,000 ft) it was not much power left. Stalls in turns and straight forward were usually not a problem. If you pulled really hard in turn it would sometime flip over on its back. The first version, the 22-A, did not have much fire power, but the 22-B was better.

—Ove Müller-Hansen (pilot), Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

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The new aircraft, designated J 22, was a mid-wing cantilever monoplane with a retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The narrow-track main landing gear retracted rearward entirely within the fuselage. To minimise the use of strategic materials, the aircraft was of mixed steel and wood construction, with a plywood-covered molybdenum steel tube fuselage covered by moulded plywood panels, and wings with welded steel spars and ribs covered by plywood.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Power came from a Swedish copy of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, manufactured by Svenska Flygmotor without a license at the time, although some sources state that after the end of the war, Svenska Flygmotor volunteered to pay a licence fee, with a symbolic US$1 eventually being agreed.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

While the two prototypes would be built at the Flygtekniska försöksanstalten (National Aeronautical Research Institute), production aircraft would be assembled by a factory at Stockholm Bromma Airport which would be built by, and leased from the Swedish airline AB Aerotransport. Extensive use was made of sub-contractors, many of which (such as AGA, and Hägglund & Söner) were outside the aviation industry, to build sub assemblies of the J-22.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

The first prototype J 22 made its maiden flight on 20 September 1942 from Bromma airport, with the second prototype flying on 11 June 1943. While both prototypes were destroyed in crashes, on 19 June and 20 August 1943 respectively, production had already been started prior to the prototypes flying.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Deliveries of production J 22s, to the F9 air wing at Gothenburg, began in October 1943.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". While delivery of the 198 production aircraft was planned to be completed by 1 July 1946, strike action by factory workers disrupted these plans, and the final 18 J 22s were assembled by the Flygvapnet workshops at Arboga.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The last J 22 was delivered on 6 April 1946.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Operational history

File:F18-J22.jpg
J 22 18 in 1948

The J 22 was well-liked by its pilots and possessed good manoeuvrability and responsive controls. Forward visibility on the ground left something to be desired and if the tailwheel was left unlocked and able to swivel during take-off there was the potential to ground-loop.

With 575 km/h (360 mph) from a 795 kW (1,065 hp) engine, the Swedish press called the diminutive fighter the "world's fastest in relation to the engine power". (While this was not absolutely accurate, the J 22 was in the same class as the early marks of Supermarine Spitfire and Mitsubishi A6M [Zero].[1]) J 22 pilots tongue-in-cheek modified this to "the world's fastest in relation to track width", because of the very narrow spacing of the undercarriage.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In mock dogfights with P-51 Mustangs (called J 26 in Swedish service) it was able to "hold its own" up to Template:Cvt although, above Template:Cvt, without a good high altitude supercharger, it became sluggish. Because of its simple systems the J 22 was also very easy to maintain and service.[2] The J 22 was retired from service in 1952.

Surviving aircraft

Five examples of the J 22 have been preserved.

Three examples are owned by the Swedish Air Force Museum, at Malmslätt, Östergötland, site of the former F 3 air wing.

22280 F 3 Red L is on static display at the museum itself.[3]

22185 F 10 Red K is located at the Ängelholms Flygmuseum at the former F 10 air force wing outside Ängelholm, Skåne. This example is able to taxi under its own power.[4]

22149 is owned by Svedinos Bil- Och Flygmuseum (Svedinos Automobile and Aviation Museum), in Ugglarp, Halland. This aircraft is currently undergoing restoration to flying condition in Sweden.[5]

Two more J 22 incomplete airframes survive. 22216 is owned by the Swedish Air Force Museum with 22236 one being owned privately. They are planned to be combined with each other and restored to flying condition.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Variants

J 22-1 or J 22A

Originally called J 22 UBv "Ursprunglig Beväpning" (original armament). First production version, 2x 8 mm and 2x 13.2 mm machine guns, 141 built.

J 22-2 or J 22B

Originally called J 22 FBv "Förbättrad Beväpning" (improved armament). Armed with 4x 13.2 mm machine guns, 57 built.

S 22-3 or S 22

Nine J 22-1 equipped for reconnaissance in 1946, restored to fighters in 1947. Used a spaningskamera Ska4 (recce camera Ska4) in the tail.

Operators

Template:Flagicon Sweden

Specifications (J 22A)

Data from F.F.V.S. J22 Fighter Aircraft [6]

General characteristics

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Armament

J 22-1 / J 22A 2 × Template:Cvt ksp m/22 with 500 rpg (license-built AN/M2 machine guns) + 2 × Template:Cvt akan m/39A with 250 rpgScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Notes

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  1. ↑ Comparison with fighters 1,000 to 1,1150 hp Script error: No such module "webarchive". Retrieved: 22 June 2008
  2. ↑ Pilot's views on J 22 Retrieved: 22 June 2008
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Bibliography

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  • Angelucci, Enzo. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914–1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. Template:ISBN.
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  • Donald, D, Lake J. (eds.) (1996) Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. AIRtime Publishing. Template:ISBN
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External links

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