The Saab B 17A, a pillar of Swedish aerospace historical past from the early Forties, is now obtainable for Microsoft Flight Simulator customers to discover the skies.
BORN OF SWEDISH INNOVATION
The B 17A, a Swedish single-engine, two-seat dive bomber, traces its lineage to the beginning of Saab (Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolag), one of many world’s main aerospace and protection companies. The Saab 17, of which the B 17A is a spinoff, was the primary plane produced by Saab, and as such, it was integral to the early development of the corporate.
With World War I nonetheless contemporary within the minds of navy determination makers, within the mid-Nineteen Thirties, the Swedish authorities outlined a protection plan that included 4 dive bomber models. The nation’s nascent aerospace business had expertise with dive bombers; the Swedish subsidiary of the German agency Junkers had developed the Okay 47 assault plane within the Twenties, though Sweden didn’t use them. The Okay 47 had confirmed profitable in early dive bombing checks and would kind the premise of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber utilized by the Germans in World War II.
In the mid-Nineteen Thirties, Sweden’s navy used the Northrop 8A-1, the export model of Northrop’s A-17 gentle assault and dive bombing plane that the Swedes designated the B 5. They additionally used Fokker C.V biplanes for gentle bombing and reconnaissance. In 1936, they sought a extra operationally strong plane, one that would carry out not solely dive bombing, however ISR information collections, ahead commentary, and floor assault. Furthermore, they wished this plane to be developed and produced in Sweden, by a Swedish firm. The navy outlined a particular plan to provide their Air Force with 257 warplanes by 1943.
The preliminary design work for the possible plane, known as the L-10, started as a top- secret venture performed collectively by the Swedish firm ASJA and the Douglas Aircraft Company of the United States. Saab, which fashioned on April 2, 1937, took over the L-10 venture when it bought ASJA in March of 1939. Saab continued unique growth of the plane and efficiently check flew it on May 18, 1940. Impressed by the airplane’s efficiency, the Air Force ordered two variants, a reconnaissance model they designated the S 17, and a diver bomber, the B 17. They created three iterations of the B 17, the B 17A, the B 17B, and the B 17C. Each was based mostly on engine kind, with the B 17A fitted with essentially the most highly effective motor.
THE AIRCRAFT
The B 17A is a purpose-built derivation of the Saab 17, a multi-role navy airframe designed to meet the roles of ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) information collections, ahead commentary, floor assault (together with maritime torpedo missions), and bomber. The Saab 17 took its maiden flight on May 18, 1940, and was launched in March of 1942. Saab manufactured 326 17s, 264 of which had been dive bomber variants; 132 had been B 17A variations.
The Saab B 17A is among the most distinctive plane of the World War II period. It includes a lengthy “greenhouse” cover over the airplane’s tandem two-seat cockpit, a mid-wing design, a conventional empennage, and conspicuously massive most important touchdown gear doorways. During bombing runs, pilots deployed the touchdown gear and the gear doorways acted as air brakes, sustaining a measured dive pace and stabilizing the plane for bomb launch. The Saab 17 was notable for a sequence of engineering feats, like being the primary Swedish all-metal, stressed-skin plane, and utilizing recessed rivets to optimize airflow on the boundary layer of the airplane’s surfaces. The B 17 may additionally accommodate skis or floats rather than wheels for touchdown gear.
The B 17A was used as a check car for early ejection seats by the Danish Brigade in Sweden who had been organized to struggle German forces in World War II. The Ethiopian Air Force operated a fleet of the airframe from 1947 to 1968.
The B 17A measures 32 ft, 10 inches in size, stands 14 ft, 9 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 44 ft, 11 inches. It is powered by a 1,065-horsepower STWC-3 engine, which is an unlicensed copy of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 S1C3G 14-cylinder, dual-row, radial piston engine. The B 17A has a variety of 606 miles and a high pace of 270 miles per hour.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Saab B 17A comes with seven liveries:
- SE-BYH; Swedish Air Force (17342)
- Swedish Air Force (17396)
- Imperial Ethiopian Air Force (319)
- Finnish Air Force (SH-1)
- Xbox Aviators Club
- Aviators Club
Try it out right now! It is obtainable within the in-sim market for $14.99. The sky is asking!
Microsoft Flight Simulator is obtainable for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported cellphones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs through Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the newest info on Microsoft Flight Simulator, keep tuned to @MSFSOfficial on Twitter.
