Top speed 262 km/h Length 7 m Manufacturer Saab Group | Wingspan 8.85 m Introduced 1972 Designer Björn Andreasson | |
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Saab safari over bod og b rvasstindan
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
- Saab safari over bod og b rvasstindan
- Saab safari acro
- Development and design
- Variants
- MFI 17 Supporter
- Former Operators
- MFI 17 Mushshak
- Specifications Safari
- References
![Saab Safari FileNorwegian Air Force SAAB Safari Olsen1jpg Wikimedia Commons](https://alchetron.com/cdn/saab-safari-77d6ec3f-f485-4970-b706-fd2928412f7-resize-750.jpg)
Saab safari acro
Development and design
![Saab Safari httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu](https://alchetron.com/cdn/saab-safari-eb008427-ca1d-4a1f-bc20-278339a0957-resize-750.jpg)
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.
![Saab Safari 1000 images about Saab MFI15 Safari on Pinterest Trainers Air](https://alchetron.com/cdn/saab-safari-2eca7edb-82a6-41aa-99ff-d869dedd16b-resize-750.jpeg)
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 to maintain correct centre of gravity. 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.
![Saab Safari FileSaab Safari Yellow Sparrows Turku Airshow 2015 05JPG](https://alchetron.com/cdn/saab-safari-7498aeea-7510-4361-9565-3aa60a523ca-resize-750.jpg)
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.
![Saab Safari Saab MFI15 Safari Norway Air Force Aviation Photo 1380001](https://alchetron.com/cdn/saab-safari-a3e81c38-852f-45b8-b5ae-e0f20c53db5-resize-750.jpeg)
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.
![Saab Safari Saab MFI15 Safari Norway Air Force Aviation Photo 0591096](https://alchetron.com/cdn/saab-safari-62ec081c-2496-4867-a3b9-387e5233238-resize-750.jpeg)
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.
Variants
MFI-17 Supporter
Pakistan
Former Operators
MFI-17 Mushshak
Iran
Oman
Pakistan
Syria
Saudi Arabia
Specifications (Safari)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77
General characteristics
Performance