Saab Draken Ideas and Inspiration

[ysi_maniac]

Swept delta Draken

[Weaver]

How about straight replacing the Draken's outer wings with F-16 wings?

[GTX_Admin]

Real world inspiration:

[Logan Hartke]

I love the Draken. So cool.

Cheers,

Logan

[Volkodav]

It really was ahead of its time and literally should have been a contender for the RAAFs Sabre replacement.  As I understand it (AGRA may have posted this previously) the Draken was identified as being immature but worth further investigation should the project be delayed.  Well the project was delayed and an additional batch of Sabres ordered instead of a batch of 30 Starfighter, but the Draken was never revisited.

I would have been interesting to see how the Draken would have performed in competition for the RAAF.

[Kelmola]

Those pictures make me want to build a Draken with all those modifications - larger wings, rudder, RBS-15 and ECM and those delicious delicious retractable canards from Mod 4, J79, and larger radar and IRST. Alas, I only have one 1/72 Draken in the stash - the old Airfix destined to become a non-whiffed Finnish Draken - so I would need to source another Draken, perhaps a Gripen (that would surely find some other use) for those RBS's and ECM pods; J79 can, IRST and why not the bigger radome could come from the abundance of Airfix Phantoms in the stash (since it does not build into anything but B anyway without modifications more trouble than they're worth, those longer burner cans and E-type radomes are just waiting to be put on something else).

Speaking of the canards, what would have been their purpose? "Whiskers" to stabilize high-speed low-level flight? (Would go well together with that strike-oriented "fit".) They do seem to be a bit on the small side to be vortex generators/high-lift devices Viggen style. Then again, since the drawing and Googleing indicates they intended to keep the one cannon and the whiskers would block the firing line when extended, that would hint at a landing/take-off aid?

[GTX_Admin]

Speaking of the canards, what would have been their purpose? "Whiskers" to stabilize high-speed low-level flight? (Would go well together with that strike-oriented "fit".) They do seem to be a bit on the small side to be vortex generators/high-lift devices Viggen style. Then again, since the drawing and Googleing indicates they intended to keep the one cannon and the whiskers would block the firing line when extended, that would hint at a landing/take-off aid?

I have read they were to aid manoeuvrability though I suspect this could be the writers falling into the all to common trap of "canards= manoeuvrability".  Given the proposed modifications were designed to allow the fighter to carry a heavy strike load (it was also to be fitted with a new strike-oriented avionics suite) and still use the BASE 90 system of distributed short airstrips, I tend to believe that the canards would have only been used on landing/takeoff and therefore definitely imply a landing/take-off aid.

[GTX_Admin]

One of these is not like the others...

[Weaver]

Speaking of the canards, what would have been their purpose? "Whiskers" to stabilize high-speed low-level flight? (Would go well together with that strike-oriented "fit".) They do seem to be a bit on the small side to be vortex generators/high-lift devices Viggen style. Then again, since the drawing and Googleing indicates they intended to keep the one cannon and the whiskers would block the firing line when extended, that would hint at a landing/take-off aid?

I have read they were to aid manoeuvrability though I suspect this could be the writers falling into the all to common trap of "canards= manoeuvrability".  Given the proposed modifications were designed to allow the fighter to carry a heavy strike load (it was also to be fitted with a new strike-oriented avionics suite) and still use the BASE 90 system of distributed short airstrips, I tend to believe that the canards would have only been used on landing/takeoff and therefore definitely imply a landing/take-off aid.

Which is exactly what the similarly small and retractable nose fins on the Dassault Mirage Milan were for.

[M.A.D]

I would have been interesting to see how the Draken would have performed in competition for the RAAF.

I second this notion Volkodav!
I would really like to know the RAAF's opinion / evaluation of the Draken!!

M.A.D

[Volkodav]

I have an idea of the RAAF, even if everything else stays the same as reality, keeps the Flying reserve going in the interceptor role with their Mustangs, Vampires and Meteors giving way to the Tunnan, Lancen, Draken, Viggen and finally Gripen through to today.  The fact that these aircraft were specifically designed to be procured in largish numbers and operated by conscripts and reservists would make them ideal for the RAAFs integrated reserve/regular interceptor squadrons.

What would be really cool is if we could evolve some colourful RAAF Reserve markings similar to those still used by the RAF, they would look awesome on a Draken.  Maybe they could be based on the Light Horse colour patches http://www.lighthorse.org.au/resources/manual-for-dress-equip-and-conduct/manual-for-dress-equip-and-conduct-4.-regimental-colour-patches

[ysi_maniac]

One of these is not like the others...

I counted 40 drakens.

[GTX_Admin]

Teasing...

[Volkodav]

I've got a 1/48 Hasegawa Draken that will (ok may) one day be completed as a RAAF machine, probably as a 24 Sqn machine.

[M.A.D]

Teasing...

See, looking at this profile, and my gut inkling, I think Australia/RAAF would have been better off with the Draken, over that of the Mirage III. It already had the adapted Avon engine the RAAF really preferred, as well as being the first true European all-weather supersonic fighter design! Add to this its 'real' and purposely designed rough-field capability.

M.A.D

[Weaver]

The Draken didn't have much of a rough field capability as much as a short field one. It was designed to operate from short road sections, but I'm not sure how much soft ground it could take: the undercarriage is short and the tires are narrow.

[GTX_Admin]

Whether it had short/rough field capability or not, it is a moot point if one is talking about RAAF use.

[Daryl J.]

I'm still tempted to mount one on a large fuel tank with two boosters like the Shuttle having it proportioned the same.

I have no idea why or what use it would serve, but there ya have it.   

[Volkodav]

Whether it had short/rough field capability or not, it is a moot point if one is talking about RAAF use.

The average Australian country road is probably inferior to the unprepared field of most countries.

[M.A.D]

Whether it had short/rough field capability or not, it is a moot point if one is talking about RAAF use.

The average Australian country road is probably inferior to the unprepared field of most countries.

Ha ha! How true!!

M.A.D

[Volkodav]

Was still cruising at 220km/h north of Alice on one of them before my wife punched me and I slowed down to 180

I seriously have to do a RAAF reserve Draken, just need to decide whether it will be a hi-vis 60s machine, a 70s camo, or a 80s-90s lo-vis

[kitnut617]

Was still cruising at 220km/h north of Alice on one of them before my wife punched me and I slowed down to 180

I seriously have to do a RAAF reserve Draken, just need to decide whether it will be a hi-vis 60s machine, a 70s camo, or a 80s-90s lo-vis

Do three of them, one of each   

[GTX_Admin]

Whether it had short/rough field capability or not, it is a moot point if one is talking about RAAF use.

The average Australian country road is probably inferior to the unprepared field of most countries.

So what?!  If the RAAF had gone with the Draken over the Mirage III, the Drakens would still have been operated from the same locations as the Mirage IIIs  - in other words, well established Air Bases with well maintained runways, primarily RAAF Williamtown, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Butterworth, RAAF Edinburgh...

[GTX_Admin]

I actually plan to do a RAAF SK 35C/TF-35 in ARDU Fanta can.

So picture this:



In this scheme:

[ChernayaAkula]

Those combined fuel tanks/weapons pylons from the Mirage wouldn't look out of place on such a Draken. 

<...> I seriously have to do a RAAF reserve Draken, just need to decide whether it will be a hi-vis 60s machine, a 70s camo, or a 80s-90s lo-vis

Do three of them, one of each   

Good plan!  :)