Sweden’s “Flying Barrel” – The Saab 29 Tunnan – The first swept-wing fighter to be built in Western Europe and clearly a child of the Cold War, the Saab 29, sometimes also referred to as the J29, fittingly earned the moniker “Tunnan” or “Barrel.” Designed in the late 1940s, it was the second turbojet-powered combat aircraft to be developed in Sweden, after the Saab 21R. The first-generation jet fighter was a single-seat, single-engine aircraft with a single central air take placed at the nose and a bubble cockpit. Pilots found the Saab 29 to be fast and agile, with its rate of roll and turn radius each considered outstanding. The Saab 29 entered service in 1951 and was well suited to serving in both fighter and fighter-bomber roles. A total of 661 Saab J29 Tunnans were delivered, and many of the 308 B, D and E models were upgraded to the J29F standards.

Source: Forbes April 01, 2022 19:02 UTC