FFVS J22

1942

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FFVS J22

In October 1940 the United States government placed an export embargo on 292 fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft ordered by the Swedish authorities. This created an immediate crisis for the Flygvapen (Swedish air force) and an emergency programme was established to design and build a single-seat fighter relying upon domestic industry and talent. The design team was led by Bo Lundberg, and the Flygforvaltningens Verkstad (FFVS) or Air Board Workshop was established to oversee the whole programme from project stage to quantity delivery to the Flygvapen.

The production programme involved over 500 sub-contractors, hardly any with experience of aircraft construction. Lundberg had as a primary objective simplicity of manufacture and in this he succeeded. Powered by a Swedish version of the Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp SC3-G radial engine, the FFVS J22 was a cantilever mid-wing monoplane of mixed steel tube and wood construction. Its tubular-steel fuselage had a covering of moulded plywood panels that were integral with the load-bearing structure of the machine. The landing gear main legs retracted into the fuselage and the tailwheel was also fully retractable.

The first of two J22 prototypes flew for the first time on 21 September 1942, from Bromma airport where the final assembly plant had been set up. Before that flight 60 series J22s had been ordered and eventually 198 production fighters were delivered, beginning in October 1943, the last example being received by the air arm in April 1946. J22s served principally with the F3 and F9 wings of the Swedish air arm, based at Malmslatt and Goteborg respectively. They proved popular with their pilots, demonstrating good performance and excellent manoeuvrability, the only criticism being the poor visibility which the pilot had for ground handling.

Two versions of the J22 were built, these differing only in armament: the J22A had two 7.9mm machine-guns and two 13.2mm guns and the J22B four 13.2mm guns. Experience gained in building the J22 proved invaluable in establishing Sweden's postwar aviation industry.

3-View 
FFVS J22A three-view drawing (800 x 686)

Specification 
 MODELJ22B
 ENGINE1 x SFA STWC3-G 14-cylinder radial piston engine, 794kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight2835 kg6250 lb
  Loaded weight2020 kg4453 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan10.00 m33 ft 10 in
  Length7.80 m26 ft 7 in
  Height2.60 m9 ft 6 in
  Wing area16.00 m2172.22 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed575 km/h357 mph
  Ceiling9300 m30500 ft
  Range1270 km789 miles
 ARMAMENT4 x 13.2mm machine-guns

Comments
lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 04:23

20

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Steve, e-mail, 24.02.2020 21:35

Where can I find a model of that bird??? 1:48 or 1:32. 357 mph in a 1940 fighter? Sheeesh!!

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Eli Tufo, e-mail, 27.09.2021 Steve

I know! I want one. Have you found a model of that plane?

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Johan Runfeldt, 28.05.2015 19:43

In fact, a couple of the pilots delivering P-51 Mustangs to the RSAF got to fly the J22 and their response was: Why the H-ll are you buying Mustangs!
Later, from the last big Swedish Defence exercise that included the J22, a Vampire pilot remembers getting a J22 in his sights,thinking: Now I got that darn paper cone! Then the J22 turned on a dime and came at him.

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TORBJÖRN KAMPE, e-mail, 07.03.2015 01:06

During WW2 HOW crashed American bombers in Sweden. THE American pilots say, J-22 as a trainer. I STAND FOR THEM. Given that the US HAD A SCHOOL FLIGHT PLAN CALLED CULVER A-8 / PQ-8 / PQ-14. So you could say that J-22 is a CULVER. WHAT FUN.
HOW TO SURVIVE IN AN IDIOT country too.

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TMZuk, e-mail, 16.04.2014 19:11

It's not a SAAB aircraft, so no reason they should have any of them.

There are, according to Wikipedia, three survivors, all in Sweden. I read elsewhere on the net that one of them is being restored to flight-worthy condition.

One of the three are at the Swedish Flygvapen museum, in Malem near Linköping.

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fernando sampaio, e-mail, 21.08.2013 01:11

sou plastimodelista e acabei de adquirir um modelo na escala 1:72. um espetáculo!

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Lars Hedman, e-mail, 11.03.2011 05:14

I do not think any have survived with the exception of what-ever might be in
the collection of the SFV museum at Malmslätt just south of Linköping, SAAB's ancestral home. hey have a WEB site....

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Aero99, 13.02.2011 05:50

Id like to learn more about this aircraft since it is so interesting

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leo rudnicki, e-mail, 14.04.2009 03:24

No, sweden embargoed them. Ha Ha. This little gem is the best performance aircraft in it's engine class, including everybody. The P-43 Lancer comes close( with Turbo) on that day when it starts, and runs for a while but only close.

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luke, e-mail, 28.12.2006 02:00

are their any of the ffvs 22's in the u.s.

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