Saab 21
Saab · Sweden · first flew 1943 · fighter
The Saab 21 is a Swedish single-seat low-wing fighter and attack aircraft. Its twin-boom fuselage with a pusher engine gives it an unusual appearance.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.45 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-boom layout with the engine and pusher propeller at the rear of a central nacelle
- Armament concentrated in the nose, with a clear view for the pilot
- Tricycle landing gear, with the main wheels retracting into the tail booms
A pusher-propeller twin-boom aircraft with a short central nacelle and a nose full of guns.
Specifications
- The Saab 21 has a length of 10.45 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.6 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 650 km/h (404 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first J 21 prototype made its maiden flight on 30 July 1943, flown by Claes Smith. It used a licence-built Daimler-Benz DB 605B and was among the first operational aircraft with an ejection seat.
Variants
Production versions were the J 21A-1, A-2 and the A 21A-3 fighter-bomber. Existing aircraft were converted to the jet-powered Saab 21R from 1947, and 298 piston-engined aircraft were built.
Where you'll see it
The first J 21A-1 was delivered to the Swedish Air Force on 1 December 1945. It was used mainly as a light bomber, and was retired on 23 July 1954.
Related aircraft
- Saab 18
- Saab 91 Safir
- Saab 90 Scandia
- Saab J 21R
- Arado Ar 440
- Brewster F3A-1 Corsair
- Brewster XA-32
- Curtiss P-40 N Warhawk
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.