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===[[Brownsea Island Scout camp]]===
The '''Saab Viggen''' (''Thunderbolt''¹) or '''Saab 37''' is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[fighter aircraft]] manufactured between 1971 and 1990 to replace the [[Saab Lansen]].
We've put a lot of work into improving this lately and feel it is ready for a FAC run. Brownsea Island was the site of the first camping trip by [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Robert Baden-Powell]] in August 1907. This camping trip ignited the worldwide [[Scouting]] movement.[[User:Rlevse|Rlevse]] 14:56, 8 July 2007 (UTC)
*'''Support''' Especially relevant with the upcoming centenarry. --[[User:evrik|evrik]] <sup>([[User talk:evrik|talk]])</sup> 19:12, 8 July 2007 (UTC)
Design of the Viggen began in the early 1960s with the aim of producing a robust single-engined fighter with excellent [[STOL]] performance that could be operated from improvised facilities such as roadways in the event of nuclear attacks on major installations. Other requirements included supersonic ability at low level, Mach 2 performance at altitude, and the ability to make short landings at low angles of attack (to avoid damaging improvised runways).
To meet these design goals, Saab selected a radical [[canard]]¹ configuration: a conventional [[delta wing]] with small, high-set canard wings. Canards have since become common in fighter aircraft, notably with the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] and the [[IAI Kfir]].)
Power is provided by a single [[Volvo]] Flygmotor RM8B [[turbofan]] - essentially a licence-built version of the same [[Pratt & Whitney JT8D]] that powered commercial airliners of the '[[1960s|60s]] like the [[Douglas DC-9|DC-9]] and the [[Boeing 727|727]] but with an [[afterburner (engine)|afterburner]].
The Viggen entered service with the Swedish armed forces with a ground attack optimised version in [[1971]]. After 110 of the original AJ 37s and 18 Sk 37 two-seat trainers were delivered, 26 of the SF 37 reconnaissance version, and another 26 of the SH 37 maritime reconnaissance and strike version were built.
Although the Viggen was offered for sale worldwide, and regarded as a very competent aircraft, no export sales eventuated. Reasons to explain Saab's failure to sell a competitively priced and well-respected aircraft include the Swedish government's relatively strict controls on arms exports to [[democracy|undemocratic]] countries, potential customers' doubts about continuity of support and supply of spare parts in the event of a conflict disapproved of by Sweden, and strong diplomatic pressure of larger nations (the United States in particular).
The final Viggen variant was the JA 37 [[interceptor]]. The last of 149 JA 37s was delivered in [[1990]]. Various upgrades have been performed over the years, mainly to cockpit equipment, weapons and sensor fit, but the Viggen is now being phased out in favor of the advanced later generation [[Gripen]].
¹ Viggen, or a "Vigg" is also a [[Tufted Duck|tufted duck]] (''Aythya fuligula''), which is found in Sweden. Coincidentally(?) "Canard" is [[French language|French]] for duck.
== See also ==
*[[Swedish Air Force]]
*[[Saab 9-3]]
== External links ==
*[http://hem.passagen.se/weasle/ SAAB 37 Viggen Home Page]
*[http://www.sofnet.org/index.asp?lev=1155&typ=1 Vigg, The Tufted Duck] (in [[Swedish language|Swedish]])
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