SAAB J 21Alasercut shortkit

SAAB J 21A

David's latest, is a 1/4 Scale design of the SAAB J21 that was a self-defense fighter from World War II.  This is a unique twin-boom pusher design that the Swedes built to maintain their neutrality during World War II.  Because it's a pusher design, the airframe works well as an electric-powered model.  It would be very difficult to cool a combustion engine and still keep the scale look of this design.  Big thanks to Roy Maynard who visited the air museum in Sweden and provided images of all the scale details for David’s design.

The SAAB J 21 series is arguably the most iconic propeller-driven aircraft to ever come out of Sweden.  For the time, they were a bit underpowered but its distinctive twin-boom, rear-engine design was easy to recognize and its aerial performance was nothing to scoff at.  Due to the risks with the propeller behind the pilot, the J 21 was one of the first aircraft in the world to be fitted with an ejection seat.

On July 30, 1943, the 21 performed its maiden flight and on December 1, 1945, the first examples of the J 21A-1 were introduced to service.  It was quickly followed by the improved J- 21A-2, which featured heavier armament, and the A-21A-3 fighter-bomber.  Due to Swedish Air Force interest in jet fighters, SAAB would later produced a conversion using the British de Havilland Goblin it was designated the SAAB 21R.