Microsoft Flight Simulator Releases Local Legend 13: The Saab B 17A

The Saab B 17A, a pillar of Swedish aerospace historical past from the early Forties, is now accessible for Microsoft Flight Simulator customers to discover the skies.

BORN OF SWEDISH INNOVATION

The B 17A, a Swedish single-engine, two-seat dive bomber, traces its lineage to the start of Saab (Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolag), one of many world’s main aerospace and protection corporations. The Saab 17, of which the B 17A is a spinoff, was the primary plane produced by Saab, and as such, it was integral to the early development of the corporate.

With World Warfare I nonetheless recent within the minds of army choice makers, within the mid-Thirties, the Swedish authorities outlined a protection plan that included 4 dive bomber models. The nation’s nascent aerospace business had expertise with dive bombers; the Swedish subsidiary of the German agency Junkers had developed the Okay 47 assault plane within the Twenties, though Sweden didn’t use them. The Okay 47 had confirmed profitable in early dive bombing assessments and would type the premise of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber utilized by the Germans in World Warfare II.

Within the mid-Thirties, Sweden’s army used the Northrop 8A-1, the export model of Northrop’s A-17 mild assault and dive bombing plane that the Swedes designated the B 5. Additionally they used Fokker C.V biplanes for mild bombing and reconnaissance. In 1936, they sought a extra operationally strong plane, one that would carry out not solely dive bombing, however ISR knowledge collections, ahead statement, and floor assault. Moreover, they needed this plane to be developed and produced in Sweden, by a Swedish firm. The army outlined a particular plan to produce their Air Pressure with 257 warplanes by 1943.

The preliminary design work for the potential plane, known as the L-10, started as a top- secret challenge carried out collectively by the Swedish firm ASJA and the Douglas Plane Firm of america. Saab, which fashioned on April 2, 1937, took over the L-10 challenge when it bought ASJA in March of 1939. Saab continued unique growth of the plane and efficiently take a look at flew it on Might 18, 1940. Impressed by the airplane’s efficiency, the Air Pressure ordered two variants, a reconnaissance model they designated the S 17, and a diver bomber, the B 17. They created three iterations of the B 17, the B 17A, the B 17B, and the B 17C. Every was based mostly on engine kind, with the B 17A fitted with essentially the most highly effective motor.

THE AIRCRAFT

The B 17A is a purpose-built derivation of the Saab 17, a multi-role army airframe designed to meet the roles of ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) knowledge collections, ahead statement, floor assault (together with maritime torpedo missions), and bomber. The Saab 17 took its maiden flight on Might 18, 1940, and was launched in March of 1942. Saab manufactured 326 17s, 264 of which had been dive bomber variants; 132 had been B 17A variations.

The Saab B 17A is likely one of the most distinctive plane of the World Warfare II period. It contains a lengthy “greenhouse” cover over the airplane’s tandem two-seat cockpit, a mid-wing design, a standard empennage, and conspicuously massive essential touchdown gear doorways. Throughout bombing runs, pilots deployed the touchdown gear and the gear doorways acted as air brakes, sustaining a measured dive velocity and stabilizing the plane for bomb launch. The Saab 17 was notable for a collection of engineering feats, like being the primary Swedish all-metal, stressed-skin plane, and utilizing recessed rivets to optimize airflow on the boundary layer of the airplane’s surfaces. The B 17 may additionally accommodate skis or floats rather than wheels for touchdown gear.

The B 17A was used as a take a look at automobile for early ejection seats by the Danish Brigade in Sweden who had been organized to struggle German forces in World Warfare II. The Ethiopian Air Pressure operated a fleet of the airframe from 1947 to 1968.

The B 17A measures 32 ft, 10 inches in size, stands 14 ft, 9 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 44 ft, 11 inches. It’s powered by a 1,065-horsepower STWC-3 engine, which is an unlicensed copy of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 S1C3G 14-cylinder, dual-row, radial piston engine. The B 17A has a spread of 606 miles and a high velocity of 270 miles per hour.

The Microsoft Flight Simulator Saab B 17A comes with seven liveries:

• SE-BYH; Swedish Air Pressure (17342)
• Swedish Air Pressure (17396)
• Imperial Ethiopian Air Pressure (319)
• Finnish Air Pressure (SH-1)
• Xbox Aviators Membership
• Aviators Membership

Attempt it out as we speak! It’s accessible within the in-sim market for $14.99. The sky is looking!

Microsoft Flight Simulator is offered for Xbox Collection X|S and PC with Xbox Sport Cross, PC Sport Cross, Home windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported cell phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs by way of Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the newest info on Microsoft Flight Simulator, keep tuned to @MSFSOfficial on Twitter.