Saab Safari

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.

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.

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.[1] 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.[2]

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.

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.

• MFI-15 Safari – original civilian variant.
• MFI-17 Supporter – Saab's designation for the military variant, Danish designation T-17.
• Saab Safari TS – a prototype fitted with a 157 kW (210 hp) turbocharged piston engine.
• MFI-17 Mushshak – improved version of MFI-17 Supporter manufactured by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex under license.
• PAC Super Mushshak – upgraded Pakistan-manufactured variant of the MFI-17 Mushshak.

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot and student)
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 8.85 m (29 ft 0 in)
• Height: 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 11.90 m² (128.1 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 646 kg (1,424 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 190 L (42 imp gal; 50 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 air-cooled flat-four piston engine, 150 kW (200 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell HC-C2YK-4F/FC7666A-2 constant speed propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 236 km/h (147 mph, 127 kn) at sea level
• Cruise speed: 208 km/h (129 mph, 112 kn)
• Stall speed: 107 km/h (66 mph, 58 kn) flaps down, power off
• Never exceed speed: 365 km/h (227 mph, 197 kn)
• Endurance: 5 hr 10 min
• Service ceiling: 4,100 m (13,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.10 m/s (807 ft/min)
• Take-off run to 15 m (50 ft): 385 m (1,263 ft)
• Landing run from 15 m (50 ft): 390 m (1,280 ft)

Related development

• Malmö MFI-9
• PAC MFI-17 Mushshak
• PAC Super Mushshak

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• ARV Super2
• Malmö MFI-9
• Saab 91 Safir
• Scottish Aviation Bulldog
• Valmet L-70 Vinka

• Taylor, John W. R. (1976). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00538-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)