Flyhistorisk Museum Sola · Military aircraft
Saab RF-35 Draken
The Swedish Saab 35 Draken was the first fighter aircraft developed in Western Europe capable of flying faster than the speed of sound. Development began in 1948. The aircraft made its first flight in 1955 and entered operational service in the spring of 1960. The Draken was produced in several variants and remained in production until 1974.
The aircraft was originally developed as an interceptor. In peacetime, it was intended to intercept long-range Soviet attack-, patrol-, and reconnaissance aircraft approaching Swedish airspace. In wartime, its primary mission would be to shoot down such aircraft before they reached their targets.
The Saab 35 Draken was exported to Denmark, Finland, and Austria but has never seen combat. During the Cold War, the Draken, alongside the Saab 37 Viggen, formed the backbone of the Swedish fighter force.
In 1968, Denmark ordered 51 Saab 35 Draken. The aircraft were evaluated against the French Dassault Mirage 5 and the American Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. They were delivered to Denmark between 1970 and 1972 and came in three different versions. In Danish service, these were designated Saab F-35 Draken (fighter version), Saab TF-35 Draken (two-seat trainer version), and Saab RF-35 Draken (photo-reconnaissance version). Denmark used the fighter version until the winter of 1991/92, and the trainer and photoreconnaissance versions until the end of 1993.
In 1999, the last Draken were retired from Swedish service, while the Finnish aircraft were retired the following year. The Austrian aircraft remained in service until 2005.
THE MUSEUM’S AIRCRAFT
The aircraft on display is one of the Danish planes. It is a Saab RF-35 Draken, the specialized photo-reconnaissance version. It has the serial number AR-114 and was flown to Sola on 21 February 1994.
Specifications
- Type
- Single-seat fighter / reconnaissance aircraft
- First flight
- 1955
- Length
- 15,3 m
- Wingspan
- 9,4 m
- Height
- 3,9 m
- Weight, empty and max
- 8000 / 12 000 kg
- Engine
- Svenska Flygmotor RM6C (Rolls-Royce Avon)
- Top speed
- 2450 km/h
- Range
- 2750 km
- Armament
- 2x30 mm cannons, 2900 kg weapons load
- Country of origin
- Sweden
- Museum number
- FMSG2011.27.01
