In
1945, the Swedish Air Force decided that the combat aircraft of
the future would be jet powered. STAL was already working on jet
engines, but they wouldn't be ready until 1952, which is to say
too late for any aircraft project started in 1945. Therefore de
Havilland Vampires were purchased in 1945 and licence production
of its Goblin engine was started for the jet engined variant of
Saab's J 21 fighter.
The
earliest design work decided the relative merits of a
"Vampire" or "Shooting Star" configuration,
but finally the choice was the project called R 1001
"Tunnan" which meant in Swedish the barrel.
The
very first "Barrel" concept in October 1945 had straight
wings, but in November Saab came into possesion of German research
material, via Switzerland which showed advantages of swept back
wings. Aa a result 25 degree sweep back was selected.
The
first Saab 29 prototype first flew on Sept 1, 1948. It had full
span flaperons, but later prototypes and the production machines
had separate flaps and ailerons.
In
1968 Saab 29s retired from service and the remaining examples flew
as target towers.
