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| FFVS J 22 | |
|---|---|
 An FFVS J 22 on static display at theSwedish Air Force Museum, in the markings ofÖstgöta Wing (F 3), code "L". | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | Sweden |
| Manufacturer | Kungliga Flygförvaltningens Flygverkstad i Stockholm (FFVS) |
| Designer | Bo Lundberg |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Swedish Air Force |
| Number built | 198 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1942–1946 |
| Introduction date | October 1943 |
| First flight | 20 September 1942 |
| Retired | 1952 |
TheFFVS J 22 was a Swedish single-enginefighter aircraft developed for theSwedish Air Force during World War II.
At the onset ofWorld War II, theSwedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) was equipped with largely obsoleteGloster Gladiator (J 8) biplane fighters. To augment this, Sweden ordered 120Seversky P-35 (J 9) and 144Vultee P-66 Vanguard (J 10) aircraft from the United States.[1][2] In October 1940, the United States declared an embargo against delivering the remainder of the orders to Sweden (60 P-35s had been delivered).[1][2]Flygvapnet suddenly faced a shortage of modern fighters. Several other foreign alternatives were considered: the SovietPolikarpovI-16 andI153 were considered obsolete, the FinnishVL Myrsky was rejected due to its all-wooden construction and while Japan offered theMitsubishi A6M, delivery from Japan was impractical.[3] A batch ofFiat CR.42 Falco (J 11) biplanes andReggianeRe.2000Falco (J 20) were eventually purchased but this was clearly an interim solution.[1][3]
It was decided to design a new fighter to meetFlygvapnet's needs. AsSaab was running at full capacity building its single-engineSaab 17 and twin-enginedSaab 18 bombers, a new organisation was set up to design and build the new aircraft, theKungliga Flygförvaltningens Flygverkstad i Stockholm ("Royal Air Administration Aircraft Factory in Stockholm",FFVS). The design team would be led byBo Lundberg.[4][5]
This was one of the finest aircraft that I have ever flown. The responsiveness of the controls and overall handling was exceptionally nice. It was not a high altitude fighter but up to about 5000 m (16,000 ft) it could hold its own very well. We flew mock dog fights with P-51 Mustangs and they could not catch us below 4000 m (13,000 ft) but if the fight was higher than that we had to be very careful. At altitudes above 6000 m (19,500 ft) it was getting sluggish and at 9000 m (29,000 ft) it was not much power left.Stalls in turns and straight forward were usually not a problem. If you pulled really hard in turn it would sometime flip over on its back. The first version, the 22-A, did not have much fire power, but the 22-B was better.
The new aircraft, designatedJ 22, was a mid-wingcantilevermonoplane with a retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit.[6] The narrow-track main landing gear retracted rearward entirely within the fuselage. To minimise the use of strategic materials, the aircraft was of mixed steel and wood construction, with a plywood-covered molybdenum steel tubefuselage covered by mouldedplywood panels, and wings with welded steel spars and ribs covered by plywood.[1][7] Power came from a Swedish copy of thePratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, manufactured bySvenska Flygmotor without a license at the time, although some sources state that after the end of the war, Svenska Flygmotor volunteered to pay a licence fee, with a symbolic US$1 eventually being agreed.[2]
While the two prototypes would be built at theFlygtekniska försöksanstalten (National Aeronautical Research Institute), production aircraft would be assembled by a factory atStockholm Bromma Airport which would be built by, and leased from the Swedish airlineAB Aerotransport. Extensive use was made of sub-contractors, many of which (such asAGA, andHägglund & Söner) were outside the aviation industry, to build sub assemblies of the J-22.[1][8]
The first prototype J 22 made its maiden flight on 20 September 1942 fromBromma airport, with the second prototype flying on 11 June 1943. While both prototypes were destroyed in crashes, on 19 June and 20 August 1943 respectively, production had already been started prior to the prototypes flying.[9][10] Deliveries of production J 22s, to the F9 air wing atGothenburg, began in October 1943.[11] While delivery of the 198 production aircraft was planned to be completed by 1 July 1946,strike action by factory workers disrupted these plans, and the final 18 J 22s were assembled by theFlygvapnet workshops atArboga.[9][12] The last J 22 was delivered on 6 April 1946.[9]
The J 22 was well-liked by its pilots and possessed good manoeuvrability and responsive controls. Forward visibility on the ground left something to be desired and if the tailwheel was left unlocked and able to swivel during take-off there was the potential to ground-loop.
With 575 km/h (360 mph) from a 795 kW (1,065 hp) engine, the Swedish press called the diminutive fighter the "world's fastest in relation to the engine power". (While this was not absolutely accurate, the J 22 was in the same class as the early marks ofSupermarine Spitfire andMitsubishi A6M [Zero].[13]) J 22 pilots tongue-in-cheek modified this to "the world's fastest in relation to track width", because of the very narrow spacing of the undercarriage.[citation needed]
In mock dogfights withP-51 Mustangs (called J 26 in Swedish service) it was able to "hold its own" up to 5,000 m (16,000 ft) although, above 6,000 m (20,000 ft), without a good high altitudesupercharger, it became sluggish. Because of its simple systems the J 22 was also very easy to maintain and service.[14] The J 22 was retired from service in1952.
Five examples of the J 22 have been preserved.
Three examples are owned by theSwedish Air Force Museum, atMalmslätt,Östergötland, site of the formerF 3 air wing.
22280 F 3 Red L is on static display at the museum itself.[15]
22185 F 10 Red K is located at the Ängelholms Flygmuseum at the formerF 10 air force wing outsideÄngelholm,Skåne. This example is able to taxi under its own power.[16]
22149 is owned by Svedinos Bil- Och Flygmuseum (Svedinos Automobile and Aviation Museum), in Ugglarp,Halland. This aircraft is currently undergoing restoration to flying condition in Sweden.[17]
Two more J 22 incomplete airframes survive. 22216 is owned by the Swedish Air Force Museum with 22236 one being owned privately. They are planned to be combined with each other and restored to flying condition.[citation needed]
J 22-1 orJ 22A
J 22-2 orJ 22B
S 22-3 orS 22
Data fromF.F.V.S. J22 Fighter Aircraft[18]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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