I live near the Mojave airport where there is a place called “Test pilots training center”. Pilots from all over the world come to blast around the desert in advanced types. There’s a hot lil czech number a L 38(I think) sexy Italian Impalas and get this J35 Drakkens. So being a big ol fan of SAABs I decided to nose around, well the head mechanic kindly pulled a ladder up to the sleek bird and let me snap away. enjoy.
Hi there,
what a nice bird this Draken is! Couple of weeks ago I had the chance to see it very close too, but not at your place but here in Austria and I was able to take as much picture as possible
http://usns.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=415&Itemid=131
I have posted all of those pictures at my little website for everyone to enjoy.
Keep on modeling
René
www.usns.biz
Oh geeze! Great photographs, friend! Wow.
In 2007 I got a special tour of Chino’s Planes of Fame Air Museum. Sitting out on a huge, tarmac near the facility were 4 Drakkens. Someone was ramping up to refurbish them. They were in pretty good shape though. In my opinion, they’re very handsome jets and I was delighted to see a gaggle of them just sitting there. You can see a Hawker Hunter at the end of the line that was equally in good shape too.
Cool photos!
I looked it up an found it was just as fast as the f-104[:O] had similar cealing, turned sharper, had longer range, shorter takeoff runn etc. I really didn’t think it was that good.
It’s called Draken (dragon)[:)] maybe Drakken would translate to Dragoon [%-)]?
Yep! Very cool photos!
Ahhhhhh, Chino! Great little air museum- once you get used to the smell of cows nearby, that is![;)]
Nice photos of a cool plane! I’ve never heard of the Drakken. It looks mean!
I have the Planes of Fame Museum on my “wish list” of aircraft museums.
Waaay back in the day, during a High School trip, I spent my free day at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in DC. Officially, it was a “learn all about the US Govt.” trip. At 16, I could care less about that. I just wanted to see the Sights!
I’ll have to go with out the family to Chino. I was almost disowned after spending several hours at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. We were on our way to Disney World, and a long museum tour / rest stop was not on the agenda! I knew it was time to leave when I heard, “MOM… now he’s looking at engines! When can we go? It’s been 3 hours already!”
Later on, I had the same feeling after standing in line 1 hour for Space Mountain, for the 3rd time!
Yeah, MattSix. Do whatever prep is necessary to avoid being “disowned” when you go to Chino. The opportunity to have that happen will be very apparent there!
From the inside track I’ve got, in May 2009 they’ll be flying the P-59 Airacomet at it’s public debut. “The Worlds Oldest Flying Jet”. Only one example exists in that condition and it’s at Chino currently getting the final touches.
EVERYBODY:
CHINO IS WORLD CLASS. An ASTOUNDING COLLECTION for all TIME. Many rare airplanes are flown regularly there. (understatment)
…And I am jealous that you’ve been to the Smithsonian! That’s a “someday” for me.
The Draken was way ahead of it’s time when it came out, especially for a little second-world country. I think it was only the second aircraft capable of supersonic speeds in level flight (after the F-100). The engine was derivative of the British Avon engine, but it had it’s own SAAB-designed afterburner, which was more efficient and powerful than the British-designed version. And, as you pointed out, it was a lot more capable than contemporary US fighters, especially the F-104. Unfortunately, it didn’t have AIM-9 Sidewinder capability until the '70’s, so it was originally stuck with POS AIM-47 Falcon’s (both the IR and semi-homing versions).
Hard to believe a country of some 12-13 million,that has’nt fought a war in 300years had the wherewithall to create such a world beater. Concurrent with the Lightning and Starfighter and I may be wrong but I think far outlasted them in front line service. Back in 2000 I was working in Sweden and picked up a piece of useless trivia, it’s name is pronounced drock-en, see I told you it was useless!.
Undeniably, the Drakken is Rock’n! [:P]
The Drakken has always been one of my favorite planes, I remember the old Airfix 1/72 kits with extreme fondness, I definitely plan on picking up the Hasegawa 1/48 kits sometime soon.