Saab Safari

Last updated
MFI-15 Safari
RNoAF Saab MFI-15 Safari 806 Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 01.jpg
General information
Type Primary trainer
Manufacturer Saab AB
Designer Malmö Flygindustri
StatusActive
Primary users Danish Air Force
Number built462
History
Manufactured1971–1979
Introduction date1972
First flight26 February 1971
Developed from Malmö MFI-9 Junior
Variants PAC MFI-17 Mushshak

Saab MFI-15 Safari, also known as the Saab MFI-17 Supporter, is a propeller-powered basic trainer aircraft used by several air forces.

Contents

Development and design

On 11 July 1969 Saab flew the prototype (SE-301) of a two/three-seat civil/military trainer or general utility aircraft allocated the designation Saab-MFI 15. Developed at Malmö Flygindustri, it was powered by a 119 kW Avco Lycoming IO-320-B2 flat-four engine and with a conventional low-set tailplane. The latter was later modified to a T-tail configuration to minimise damage when operating from rough airfields.

On 26 February 1971 the prototype was flown with the more powerful Avco Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 air-cooled flat-4 piston engine, which became the standard powerplant for the production version, now designated as the Saab Safari. A braced shoulder-wing monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear, available optionally with tail-wheel landing gear, it provides side-by-side enclosed accommodation for two and has dual controls as standard. It has forward-swept wings so the wing root does not obscure the pilots’ view to the side. This design constraint applies also to the ARV Super2 and the Bölkow Bo 208 Junior, the latter a license-built version of the Malmö MFI-9 Junior.

A military version designated originally Saab-MFI 17 was flown on 6 July 1972 and differed from the Safari by being equipped more specifically for use as a military trainer, or for artillery observation or forward air control and liaison.; this version was later named Saab Supporter. In August 1978 Saab flew a prototype version of the Safari with a 157 kW Continental flat-six turbocharged engine; designated Safari TS, it did not enter production. A trainer based on the Safari's design was built in kit form for assembly in Pakistan as the Mushshak, with 92 aircraft delivered to the Pakistani Air Force. A later batch of 120 aircraft was built entirely in Pakistan. [1]

Of the 250 fully assembled aircraft built by Saab, the majority were bought by private fliers. Including the 212 Pakistani CKD or locally built aircraft, a total of 462 versions of the Safari were produced. The Royal Norwegian Air Force purchased their Safaris in 1981. Today 16 of the aircraft are stationed at Bardufoss Air Station.

A variant with a stretched wing made of composite materials, the MFI-18, was tested during the 1980s in Sweden. Also fitted with provision for skis, this version never went into production. The supporter was also used as a highly efficient COIN aircraft, Experience with the earlier MFI 9B Minicom during the Biafran Civil War encouraged Saab to develop the Supporter as a close support aircraft carrying an assortment of underwing stores including rockets and gun pods.

The number of Saab Safari in use as of 2022, together with its Pakistani successors (the MFI-17 Mushshak and MFI-395 Super Mushshak), is 477, making it one of the most commonly used aircraft for military training in the world. [2]

Variants

Operators

MFI-17 Supporter

T-17 of the Royal Danish Air Force at RIAT 2010. T-405 RIAT Bthebest.JPG
T-17 of the Royal Danish Air Force at RIAT 2010.

Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan

Former operators

Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone

Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia

Specifications (Safari)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77 [4]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saab 91 Safir</span> Swedish trainer aircraft

The Saab 91 Safir is a three or four seater, single engine trainer aircraft. The Safir was built by Saab AB in Linköping, Sweden and by De Schelde in Dordrecht, Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aermacchi AL-60</span>

The Aermacchi AL-60 is a light civil utility aircraft of the late 1950s and early 1960s, originally designed by Al Mooney of Lockheed in the United States. After the company decided not to build the aircraft in the US, it was manufactured in small quantities in Mexico, and a few were assembled in Argentina by Aviones Lockheed-Kaiser Argentina. It was also built in quantity under licence by Aermacchi in Italy and Atlas Aircraft Corporation in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beechcraft Musketeer</span> Family of light single engine aircraft

The Beechcraft Musketeer is a family of single-engined, low-wing, light aircraft that was produced by Beechcraft. The line includes the Model 19 Musketeer Sport, the Model 23 Musketeer, Custom and Sundowner, the Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III, the retractable gear Model 24R Sierra and the military CT-134 Musketeer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAAB 21</span> Attack aircraft in Sweden

The SAAB 21 is a Swedish single-seat low-wing monoplane fighter and attack aircraft designed and manufactured by SAAB. It used a twin boom fuselage with a pusher engine, giving the aircraft an unusual appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PAC MFI-17 Mushshak</span> Pakistani basic trainer aircraft

The PAC MFI-17 Mushshak is a license-built fixed-gear basic trainer aircraft manufactured by PAC. An improved version of the Saab Safari (MFI-15), the MFI-17 is manufactured in Kamra, Pakistan, by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). Built to Mil-Spec and fully aerobatic, it is priced between 6-7 million pkr. It is used for training, towing and other ground support roles. An upgraded version, the PAC Super Mushshak, has also been produced by PAC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margański & Mysłowski EM-11 Orka</span>

The EM-11 Orka (orca) is a touring and executive aircraft manufactured in Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuji FA-200 Aero Subaru</span> Single-engine piston-powered airplane

The Fuji FA-200 Aero Subaru is a single-engine piston-powered monoplane built by Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malmö MFI-9 Junior</span> Light single engine aircraft developed in Sweden in the 1960s

The Malmö Flygindustri MFI-9 Junior was a light aircraft produced in Sweden in the 1960s. The aircraft was also produced under licence in West Germany as the Bölkow Bo 208.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auster Autocar</span> 1940s British light aircraft

The Auster J/5 Autocar was a late 1940s British single-engined four-seat high-wing touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited at Rearsby, Leicestershire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave</span>

The Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave is a 1970s American single-engined, low-wing, propeller-driven agricultural plane built by Piper Aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerva CE.43 Guépard</span>

The Cerva CE.43 Guépard is a 1970s French four/five seat cabin monoplane produced by Cerva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Found Centennial 100</span> Canadian light aircraft

The Found Centennial 100 is a Canadian six-seat cabin monoplane produced by Found Brothers Aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mudry CAP 20</span> Type of aircraft

The Mudry CAP 20 is a French family of aerobatic competition single seater monoplanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DINFIA IA 45</span> Type of aircraft

The DINFIA IA 45 Querandi was a 1950s Argentine twin-engined light transport aircraft built by the DINFIA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin HR100</span> Type of aircraft

The Robin HR100 is a French four-seat light monoplane, designed by Chris Heintz and built by Avions Pierre Robin as metal-winged version of the Robin DR253 Regent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pazmany PL-1</span> Type of aircraft

The Pazmany PL-1 Laminar and Pazmany PL-2 are American two-seat trainer and personal light aircraft designed by Ladislao Pazmany to be marketed as a homebuilt aircraft by his company Pazmany Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft was built under license in Taiwan as the AIDC PL-1B Cheinshou. It was later followed by an improved version the PL-2. The SLAF Aircraft Engineering Wing developed a modified variant of the PL-2 in 1977, which was never used operationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Buccaneer</span> American amphibious light airplane

The Lake Buccaneer is an American four-seat, light amphibious aircraft derived from the Colonial C-2 Skimmer, itself a development of the three-seat Colonial C-1 Skimmer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malmö MFI-10 Vipan</span> Type of aircraft

The Malmö MFI-10 Vipan was a four-seat light utility monoplane designed and built in Sweden by Malmö Flygindustri. Only three aircraft were built and the type did not enter quantity production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruschmeyer R 90</span> Type of aircraft

The Ruschmeyer R 90 is a four-seat light aircraft designed and produced in Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kestrel KL-1</span> 1990s American single-engined aircraft

The Kestrel KL-1 is an American single-engined four-seat utility aircraft designed and built in the 1990s by the Kestrel Aircraft Company of Norman, Oklahoma.

References

  1. Blood, Peter R. (1996). Pakistan: A Country Study. Diane. p. 298. ISBN   9780788136313.
  2. "2022 World Air forces". p. 11. Flight International ranked it as the 6th most commonly used after the T-6, F-16, Hawk, T-38 and L-39.
  3. Schrøder, Hans (1991). "Royal Danish Airforce". Ed. Kay S. Nielsen. Tøjhusmuseet, 1991, p. 1–64. ISBN   87-89022-24-6.
  4. Taylor 1976, pp. 163–164

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Saab Safari at Wikimedia Commons