SAAB 17

The 'Saab 17' was a Swedish bomber-reconnaissance aircraft.

Contents

Development and service

Versions

Operators

Specifications (B 17A)

References

Related content

Development and service

The project first started at the end of the 1930s as the L 10 by ASJA, but after the merger with SAAB in 1937 it was renamed Saab 17. The wings were reinforced to make it possible to use it as a dive bomber. Since there was a shortage of engines the planes were flown to the destination where the engine was removed and reused for the next delivery. The plane was also made in three versions with different engines. The 'B 17A' used a Swedish built Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp, the 'B 17B' a British Bristol Mercury XXIV licence-built in Poland, and the 'B 17C' an Italian Piaggio P.XI.''B 17 - SAAB 17''. Swedish Bombers 1926-1959. [1] Access date: 6 May 2006. The aircraft could be fitted with wheels, skis or floats. A unique feature of the Saab 17 was its use of the extended landing gear assembly, with its large covers, as dive brakes.
The first test flight was on 18 May 1940 and first deliveries to Flygvapnet were in 1942. However, the development of jets meant it had a short service history. When the planes ended service in 1947-1950 46 of them were sold to Ethiopia where they were in service until 1968. Two B 17As were sold to Finland in the 1950s, where they served as target tugs. Both were soon damaged and removed from service.

Versions

★ 'B 17A' - Bomber version with Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engine; total production: 132

★ 'B 17B' - Bomber version with British Bristol Mercury XXIV engine; total production: 55

★ 'S 17BL' - Reconnaissance version on landing gear

★ 'S 17BS' - Reconnaissance version on floats

★ 'B 17C' - Bomber version with Piaggio PXI engine; total production: 77
The SAAB 17 had a total production run of 322 aircraft.

Operators

★ : Swedish Air Force

★ : Imperial Ethiopian Air Force

★ : Finnish Air Force

★ : Austrian Air Force

Specifications (B 17A)

References

★ Jane, Fred T. “The Saab-17.” ''Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II''. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.

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