Saab 35 Draken
The Saab 35 Draken was one of the first fighters in the world built with a distinctive 'double delta' wing, blending a highly swept inner section with a less swept outer section for a combination of high-speed performance and reasonable low-speed handling. Sweden built it domestically to guarantee a fighter force independent of foreign supply during the Cold War, when its official neutrality meant it couldn't rely on NATO or Warsaw Pact support. Its design let it operate from short stretches of ordinary public highway, part of Sweden's dispersed wartime basing strategy to survive a surprise attack on its main airbases. A number of export Drakens remained in service with Austria and Finland for years after Sweden itself retired the type.
Did you know?
Draken pilots discovered they could pitch the nose sharply upward in flight, a manoeuvre later called the Cobra decades before the Su-27 made it famous.
Specifications
| Length | 15.4 m (51 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 9.4 m (31 ft) |
| Height | 3.9 m (13 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 16 t |
| Range | 780 NM (1,445 km) |
| Maximum speed | 1,320 kt (2,445 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 65,000 ft (19,812 m) |
| Rate of climb | 34,450 ft/min (175 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 1,200 m (3,937 ft) |
| Landing distance | 1,500 m (4,921 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 4,000 l |
| Engines | 1x Rolls-Royce Avon (RM6) |
| Units built | 651 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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