FFVS J 22

J 22

J 22B at the Swedish Air Force Museum
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Kungliga Flygförvaltningens Flygverkstad i Stockholm (FFVS)
Designed by	Bo Lundberg
Maiden flight	September 1942
Introduction	October 1943
Retired	1952
Primary user	Sweden
Produced	1942-1946
Number built	198

The FFVS J 22 was a single-engine fighter aircraft developed for the Swedish Air Force during World War II.

Development

At the onset of World War II, the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) was equipped with largely obsolete Gloster Gladiator (J 8) biplane fighters. To augment this, Sweden ordered 120 Seversky P-35 (J 9) and 144 P-66 Vanguard (J 10) aircraft from the United States. However, on 18 June 1940, United States declared an embargo against exporting weapons to any nation other than Great Britain. As the result, Flygvapnet suddenly faced a shortage of modern fighters. Several other foreign alternatives were considered but Finnish VL Myrsky and Soviet Polikarpov I-16 proved unsatisfactory, and Japense A6M Zero impossible to ship. A batch of Fiat CR.42 Falco (J 11) biplanes and Reggiane Re.2000 Falco (J 20) were eventually purchased but this was clearly an interim solution.

With Flygvapnet facing a serious shortage of aircraft and Saab running at full capacity building its Saab 17 and Saab 18 bombers, a new firm and factory were established specifically for the new fighter — Kungliga Flygförvaltningens Flygverkstad i Stockholm ("Royal Air Administration Aircraft Factory in Stockholm," FFVS) under Bo Lundberg. The aircraft, designated J 22, was a monoplane with a plywood-covered steel airframe. Wing and fuselage layout were conventional, with the narrow-track main landing gear retracting rearward entirely within the fuselage. Power came from a Swedish copy of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, manufactured without a license at the time, though license fees were paid later.

The J 22 first flew on 20 September 1942 from Bromma airport where the factory was located. It entered service in October 1943, at the F9 air wing at Gothenburg, with the last of the 198 aircraft delivered in April 1946. Sub-assemblies for the J 22 were made by over 500 different contractors.

Operational history

The J 22 was well-liked by its pilots and possessed good maneuverability, although forward visibility on the ground left something to be desired. With 575 km/h (360 mph) from a 795 kW (1,065 hp) engine, the press called the diminutive fighter "World's Fastest in relation to the engine power" (while not absolutely true, it was in the same class as the early marks of Supermarine Spitfire and A6M Zero). The J 22 crews promptly modified this slogan to "World's Fastest in relation to the track width" because of the very narrow landing gear. The aircraft was retired in 1952.

Variants

J 22A - first production version, 2x 7.9 mm and 2x 13.2 mm machine guns, 143 built. Designated J 22-1 after 1945.
J 22B - armed with 4x 13.2 mm machine guns, 55 built. Designated J 22-2 after 1945.
S 22 - nine J 22A equipped for reconnaissance in 1946, restored to fighters in 1947. Designated S 22-3 after 1945.

Specifications (J 22A)

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.60 m (11 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 16.00 m² (172.16 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,020 kg (4,445 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,835 kg (6,240 lb)
Powerplant: 1× SFA STWC-3G 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 795 kW (1,065 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 575 km/h (360 mph)
Cruise speed: 340 km/h (210 mph)

Landing speed: 140 km/h (90 mph))

Range: 1,270 km (790 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,300 m (30,500 ft)
Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
Wing loading: 177 kg/m² (36 lb/ft²))
Power/mass: 0.28 kW/kg (0.17 hp/lb)

Armament

4x 13.2 mm (0.53 in) M/39A (Browning M2) machine guns

Operators

Sweden: Swedish Air Force.

References

Donald, D, Lake J. (eds.) (1996) Encyclopedia of world military aircraft. AIRtime Publishing. ISBN 1-880588-24-2

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