FVTu134 From Russia, joined Aug 2005, 169 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4399 times:
They may be old but make great warbirds and are fairly easy to maintain and engine parts are no problem as it is basically a Military tuned JT-8.
I doubt that with the current fuel prices there will be many takers for them.
Scandinavian Historic flight used to fly one and there are 3 in the US being occasionally flown by the NTPS.
I've seen a few sales ads as well..
to answer your question...
Many would want them (including me)... but then I woke up from my dream...
who decided that a Horizon should be HORIZONtal???
Norfolkjohn From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2005, 251 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 4378 times:
It would be nice to see a privately operated Draken on the European Air Display circuit again. There was a Danish registered one operating some years back.
Just on the engine issue - the Draken is powered by a Volvo Flygmotor RM6 which was a license produced version of the RR Avon NOT a detivative of the JT8. (The Viggen used the RM8 which was derived from the JT8). Avon parts will not be that plentiful but if Austria are selling off everything operators may be able to pick up low time spare engines along with the aircraft.
John
One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.
AislepathLight From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 562 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 4317 times:
The Drakens were great planes, but they are old. A little bit of a tangent, but weren't they the first European operational fighters to reach the sound barrier?
Ian
"We have slain a large dragon, but we now live in a jungle filled with a bewildering variety of poisonous snakes."
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 5, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 4285 times:
1964 Saab J35 Draken Interceptor
Price: $ 499,000 USD
Reg # N35350 Serial # 35350
Airframe:
789 Hours Total Time
Engine(s):
Volvo Flygmotor RM 6C Afterburning Turbojet
12,787 lbs. Thrust (5,800 kg)
17,637 lbs. Thrust with Afterburner (8,000 kg)
1,442 Hours Time since Major Overhaul
Overhaul Interval on Condition
Landing Gear:
Hydraulically Retractable Tricycle Gear System
Retractable Twin Wheel "Tail Scraper" Unit
FAA Approved Maintenance Program
Inspection completed August 2005
All Logbooks Reviewed, No Abnormalities
Complete Set of Translated Maintenance Manuals
Ready to Fly!
Flying and Maintenance Expertise Available
Aircraft Hangared at Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)
User Countries:
Sweden (612 Built Between 1955 and 1972)
Denmark and Finland (63 Imported and Licensed)
Austria (24 Imported)
Ejection Seat Hot
New Brakes
New Tires
Complete Set of Translated Maintenance Manuals
English Flight Manual and Checklist
All Logbooks Reviewed, No Abnormalities
Interior:
Light Gray Upholstery
Rolled and Pleated Headrest
Lumberton From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 4708 posts, RR: 21 Reply 6, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4250 times:
Just a thought...could they be used as targets, such as the retired F4's?
"When all is said and done, more will be said than done".
PETER05 From Austria, joined Dec 2005, 18 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4246 times:
I think, they could, but there are many museums stnading in a line for them...and there is the problem, that Austria can't sell it to a nation that is in fight-action.
Himmelstormer From Denmark, joined Mar 2005, 143 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 4138 times:
I remember back in 1989-90 when I was doing my military service at Skrydstrup AFB, we used to see Drakens coming in from Karup AFB(Skrydstrup has two squadrons of F-16s) before they were phased out in 1993. They were nicknamed "Murerskeen", which literally means "The Bricklayers Spoon", which I think is called a 'Trowel'. It's true, though, they do look like that, especially because of their compact delta shaped form. Very noisy as well but a cool plane with a lot of character(if you can say that about a plane).
Prebennorholm From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 6019 posts, RR: 55 Reply 9, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 4037 times:
Those J35OE Drakens are probably not very interesting for civil operators. They are very old and very well worn.
They are former J35D planes which were retired from the Swedish AF some 25 years ago having long time been superseded in production by the extensively modified and improved J35F version. SAAB polished them and sold them cheaply to Austria.
The D model is the oldest Draken version which saw substantial service.
The A model was no more than development frames, they were all modified to C models - (SK35C) unarmed two seat trainers.
The B model saw limited service in small numbers. Many bugs, hastily ritired, bugs corrected on D models.
The E model (S35E) was a recce version of the D model. Little more than a camera nose replacing the radar.
The F model was the ultimate production type, later to become substantially upgraded and renamed J35J.
The Danish Drakens were named A35XD / S35XD (A for attack, S for recce and XD for Export Denmark). They were NATO-rized F versions optimized for ground attack (we had the F-104G for air to air).
For civil use, better get hands on a former Danish Draken from the 1993 retirement. They are much younger and overall a much more capable plane.
The USAF Test Pilot School got a few former Danish two seaters some ten years back. They crashed one due to fuel starvation, but maybe they still have one or two which may soon end up on E-bay?
BTW, in Denmark the Draken was named F-35 (RF-35 for the recce version) - and TF-35 for the two seater fully combat ready conversion trainers (real fighter proficiency training was done on T-38 in the USA). The TF-35 had absolutely nothing in common with the Swedish SK35C trainers.
A former Danish TF-35 would be the ultimate civil show / fun plane.
Always keep your number of landings equal to your number of take-offs, Preben Norholm
Prebennorholm From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 6019 posts, RR: 55 Reply 11, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 3974 times:
Quoting Contact_tower (Reply 10): Is the Scandinavian Historic Flight TF-35 not airworthy???????
Don't know. I would assume that it is in the same condition as when I last time saw it in the air which is some ten years ago.
I would assume that it is collecting dust somewhere. I would also assume that finding funds for flying it - not least insurance fees - it little more than a vague dream among a few enthusiastic individuals.
Always keep your number of landings equal to your number of take-offs, Preben Norholm
FVTu134 From Russia, joined Aug 2005, 169 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3955 times:
As I believe the problem was a dispute between the owners of the aircraft (the Danish Government) and the operators (SHF). From what I heard the Danish government was requesting a few more participations of the Draken then was contractually agreed, but didn't want to pay for them. And because operations of the jet are pretty expensive, SHF didn't agree.
I don't know where the situation is at the moment. I always thought it was a joy to see flying. Last I heard it was based (and maintained) at Karup.
On top of that, insurance rates for these kinds of birds have trippled since 2001 and I can assure you they are almost impossible. I would imagine the Draken to cost about 3000 GBP per month in insurance. Try and imagine how many shows u need to fly to get that back.
It's a shame for us enthousiasts, but for the insurance companies... it's just business as usual
who decided that a Horizon should be HORIZONtal???
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