SAAB J-21R
Model Airplane News Cover Art for July, 1952
by Jo Kotula
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The Saab 21R was a Swedish twin-boom fighter/attack aircraft, made by SAAB. It was a jet-powered development of the piston-engined Saab 21 and is unusual for being the only aircraft that saw service as both a piston-engined fighter, and a jet fighter. As a fighter, its service designation in the Swedish Air Force was J 21R, and saw service in the late 1940s.

     

SAAB J-21R
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The 21R was powered by a De Havilland Goblin 3 turbojet and was Sweden's first jet-powered aircraft to be developed and built domestically.

There were quite a few differences between the 21A and the 21R, aside from the method of propulsion. The most notable difference was that the tailplane was raised to the top of the fins, moving it out of the way of the jet blast

Here is a video of the SAAB J-21R in action:

In addition to the cover of Model Airplane News, this airplane was also featured in the WINGS "Friend or Foe" trading card series of the early 1950s

Trading card representation of the SAAB J-21R
Click Here to see all 200 cards in the series
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Click Here for more information about the SAAB J-21R.

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