Saab J-21 +18a +b

[johnbr]

Production of the Saab 21R got started in 1947. A total of 60 planes were manufactured in two different versions. Here is a picture from 15 January 1949. Photo: Almqvist.
An aviation industry is born | Saab's early years | Saabs history A total of 300 Saab 21A aircraft were produced, including three flight test planes and these were on active service in the air force until 1953. SAAB 21 - Wikipedia

Saab 21 / 21R

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[johnbr]

Archive
The last one is the 18a

 

[johnbr]

Saab j-21 with db-605

 

[johnbr]

SAAB Fighter / Attack projects

 

[fahrens]

Nice pictures, the J-21 never really gets credit for its use. I saw some of the descriptions of their actions against "intruding" German aircraft during the war, it was a surprise to the BF-109s.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Great stuff! Thanks for posting.

 

[P-39 Expert]

Always thought the pusher concept had merit. Maybe retract the landing gear inward to make the booms smaller and more aerodynamic. Or use a tailless design (P-56) maybe with a canard nose elevator (P-55).
Pusher with an air cooled radial seemed the way to go. No coolant radiator, about the same frontal area as a liquid cooled engine after scoops for coolant radiator aren't needed and much better aerodynamics with the engine in back instead of up front. Tricycle landing gear, nose armament (without synchronization) and lots of space for fuel in the fuselage and wings.

 

[Capt. Vick]

My understanding is that cooling was always a problem.

 

[P-39 Expert]

My understanding is that cooling was always a problem.

I heard that too. I think the J-21 (like the XP-54) was using the propeller to draw cooling air through the ducted wing and integral coolant radiators while the plane was on the ground and relying on ram air when in flight.
The XP-55 and XP-56 had a cooling fan drawing air through the radiators (XP-55) or through the actual air cooled radial engine (XP-56) similar to the FW190 except in reverse. It was said that the XP-55 ran hot on the ground but too cool at altitude. Oh well, the FW190 had cooling problems early on it it's development too.