FFVS J 22

The FFVS J 22 was a single-engine fighter aircraft developed for the Swedish Air Force during World War II.

Contents

1 Development
2 Operational history
3 Variants
4 Specifications (J 22A)
5 Operators
6 References
7 Related content

Development

At the onset of World War II, the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) was equipped with largely obsolete Gloster Gladiator (J 8) biplane fighters. To augment this, Sweden ordered 120 Seversky P-35 (J 9) and 144 P-66 Vanguard (J 10) aircraft from the United States. However, on 18 June 1940, United States declared an embargo against exporting weapons to any nation other than Great Britain. As the result, Flygvapnet suddenly faced a shortage of modern fighters. Several other foreign alternatives were considered but Finnish VL Myrsky and Soviet Polikarpov I-16 unsatisfactory, and Japense A6M Zero impossible to ship. A batch of Fiat CR.42 Falco (J 11) biplanes and Reggiane Re.2000 Falco (J 20) were eventually purchased but this was clearly an interim solution. With Flygvapnet facing a serious shortage of aircraft and Saab running at full capacity building its Saab 17 and Saab 18 bombers, a new firm and factory were established specifically for the new fighter — Kungliga Flygförvaltningens Flygverkstad i Stockholm ("Royal Air Administration Aircraft Factory in Stockholm," FFVS) under Bo Lundberg. The aircraft, designated J 22, was a monoplane with a plywood-covered steel airframe. Wing and fuselage layout were conventional, with the narrow-track main landing gear retracting rearward entirely within the fuselage. Power came from a Swedish copy of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, manufactured without a license at the time, though license fees were paid later. The J 22 first flew on 20 September 1942 from Bromma airport where the factory was located. It entered service in October 1943, with the last of the 198 aircraft delivered in April 1946. Sub-assemblies for the J 22 were made by over 500 different contractors.

Operational history

The J 22 was well-liked by its pilots and possessed good maneuverability, although forward visibility on the ground left something to be desired. With 575 km/h (360 mph) from a 795 kW (1,065 hp) engine, the press called the diminutive fighter "World's Fastest in relation to the engine power" (while not absolutely true, it was in the same class as the early marks of Supermarine Spitfire and A6M Zero). The J 22 crews promptly modified this slogan to "World's Fastest in relation to the track width" because of the very narrow landing gear. The aircraft was retired in 1952.

Variants

J 22A - first production version, 2x 7.9 mm and 2x 13.2 mm machine guns, 143 built. Designated J 22-1 after 1945.
J 22B - armed with 4x 13.2 mm machine guns, 55 built. Designated J 22-2 after 1945.
S 22 - nine J 22A equipped for reconnaissance in 1946, restored to fighters in 1947. Designated S 22-3 after 1945.

Specifications (J 22A)

Operators

Sweden.

References

Donald, D, Lake J. (eds.) (1996) Encyclopedia of world military aircraft. AIRtime Publishing. ISBN 1880588242