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THOR'S THUNDERBOLT - How Sweden Built The Supersonic Masterpiece | SAAB 37 VIGGEN

Aviation Republic

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#Viggen #Saab37 #ColdWar #MilitaryAviation #SwedishAirForce #AviationHistory

How Sweden built one of the most advanced combat aircraft of the Cold War — designed not to win wars, but to make invasion too expensive to attempt.

Part One covers the development story: nine years of rejected designs, a canard configuration the experts said couldn't work, an American airliner engine rebuilt for Mach 2, and a computer that replaced a human navigator. All for an aircraft that had to operate from 500-metre highway strips, serviced by teenage conscripts.

This one took months to research — most sources are in Swedish or Polish, so my translation may be a little off at times.

Worth it. I hope you enjoy it, NOW, TEEEEEEEA AND BISCUITS

— Joe

This is the Saab 37 Viggen.

HERE IS PART TWO OF VIGGEN STORY: TO THE LAST MAN: Sweden's Mad Dog Ship Kil...

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
0:00:57 SAAB Viggen - Chapter 1: Neutral Doesn't Mean Safe
0:17:21 SAAB Viggen - Chapter 2: The Impossible Requirement
0:34:30 SAAB Viggen - Chapter 3: The Canard Gamble
0:44:53 SAAB Viggen - Chapter 4: Flight of the Navigator
1:15:09 SAAB Viggen - Chapter 5: American Heart, Swedish Soul
1:29:19 SAAB Viggen - Chapter 6: Proving the System

CREDITS:
Paddy Patrone
Panavia Tornado Thrust Reversal Mechanism
Panavia Tornado Thrust Reversal Mechanism

AWESOME! SAAB AJS-37 Viggen - STOL & FLIGHT DEMO
AWESOME! SAAB AJS-37 Viggen - STOL & FLIGH...

Sonic Art Media
First time seeing Saab 37 Viggen STOL blew me away! [4K]
First time seeing Saab 37 Viggen STOL blew...

Awesome STOL Capability of the Saab 37 Viggen! [4K]
Awesome STOL Capability of the Saab 37 Vig...

Silver Saab 37 Viggen Soaring Through Gorgeous Skies [4K]
Silver Saab 37 Viggen Soaring Through Gorg...

TeamM Swedish Aviation Videos
Saab 37 Viggen
Saab 37 Viggen

Övning på krigsbas med AJS37 Viggen F10
Övning på krigsbas med AJS37 Viggen F10

Johan Röd 1a divisionen F10 slutar flyga AJS37 Viggen
Johan Röd 1a divisionen F10 slutar flyga A...

Daniel Zarins
Better optics in Swesim AJS37 Viggen HUD
Better optics in Swesim AJS37 Viggen HUD

Africa Gómez
Dake tufted duck swimming and diving
Dake tufted duck swimming and diving

2015 Finland kaukava EFKA J35 DRAKEN
2015 Finland kaukava EFKA J35 DRAKEN

Satadorus
Litton LN3-2A - Inertial Navigation Platform - Moving 3 Gimbals
Litton LN3-2A - Inertial Navigation Platfo...

Jonathan Lundkvist
An overview of the Saab AJS 37 Viggen in DCS World
An overview of the Saab AJS 37 Viggen in D...

Links:
Link to the TSR2 story.
Anatomy of a Dream: When Britain Still Bel...
SAAB 37 VIGGEN Pilot manuals
https://tanks.mod16.org/2016/08/29/sa...

Photos and Videos: (Thank you gentlemen, you chaps are the best)
Paddy Patrone
Sonic Art Media
Kenneth Malmström
Andy Davey
Anthony Seeley
Chris Grunwell
Garry Lakin
Henk Wadman
Jan Buisman
John Bennett
Jon Wickenden
Kev Slade
Kurt Saxkjaer
Mat Herben
Nick Challoner
Trevor Bartlett

SOURCES:
System 37 Viggen: Aviation Historical Review — Ulf Edlund & Hans Kampf
Saab 37 Viggen: The Development of a New Unit Aircraft for the Swedish Air Force 1952–1971 — Sven Stridsberg (2003)
The Saab-Scania Story — Rolf Erichs
Viggen — Frank Stone, Walls Publishing
Swedish Viggens — Jan Jørgensen
JA 37: Pilot och system (Witness Seminar) — Johan Gribbe (2008)
The Development of Jet and Turbine Aero Engines — Bill Gunston
Canard: A Revolution in Flight — Andy Lennon
Airplane Design Parts II & III — Dr. Jan Roskam
The Role of the Fighter in Air Warfare — James J. Halley
Tema Flyg* — Swedish Air Force / Datasaab (incl. Bengt Jiewertz, V. Wentzel)
Polish Aviation Archives (Przegląd Konstrukcji Lotniczych)

📺 Video contains brief, transformed clips
Frankenstein
© 1931 Universal Studios. Renewed 1959 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
© StudioCanal. All Rights Reserved.

All footage is used under Fair Use (17 U.S.C. § 107) for commentary, education, and historical reference. Clips are visually transformed with no original audio. Some footage and recreations are used for dramatic effect and may not be 100% accurate to events depicted — our aim is historical truth within the limits of available materials.

If you have concerns about any content, please contact us: plasticapemedia@gmail.com

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20 Comments

@AviationRepublic Creator 6 months ago Pinned

Thank you all for the incredible response to this one — the comments have been overwhelming.

Genuinely means a lot.

Quick update: I'm currently deep in TSR-2 Part 2, but Viggen Part 2 is very much on the horizon (variants, operational history, and yes, those SR-71 intercepts).

If you've got footage, photos, or personal stories from your time with Viggen that you'd like me to consider for Part 2, drop me an email: plasticapemedia@gmail.com, or if you just want to say hello, feel free to drop me an email, always happy to hear from you guys.

And if you're enjoying the channel, a like, comment, or share genuinely helps these videos find new viewers.

The algorithm gods demand their tribute.

Tack så mycket

Joe

@-NiEr 6 months ago

This is - The most comprehensive Viggen documentary ever made.
That's a fact. 10/10... 👍👏

@CuriousGuyHobbies 6 months ago

Holy hell... What fantastic reseach and detail. 10/10.

@MatsGarage 6 months ago

The Viggen is the soundtrack of my 1980's childhood. That incredible rolling thunder fading into warm summer evening or crisp winters day. A feeling of awe, pride and safety.

@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665 6 months ago (edited)

If the Draken was subtle elegance, the Viggen is elegantly brutal 😉 🇬🇧🧙🏻‍♂️💚

@Greepe-x3f 6 months ago

I've been lucky to work at a swedish airforce base and standing 50 meters away from two JA37 taking off with full afterburner is a bone shattering experience that goes beyond anything a rock concert could dream of. It was a majestic aircraft.

Thank you for a wonderful video!

@NicklasJohansson-n8x 6 months ago

I lived next to a ja37 base when I was young. Remember hearing them constantly. Such a deep thundering ripping sound. My favorite jet of all time!

@rickthelearner5631 3 weeks ago

An excellent, well-researched documentary of the Viggen. My compliments. Well done!

@petritast3784 6 months ago (edited)

SAAB J35 Draken is The Most Beautiful, Viggen The Most Scary (also brutal) and JAS-39 Gripen E The Most Lethal jet fighter ever!

-In the memory of Aarne Lakomaa 🇫🇮🇸🇪💪

@shingnosis 1 month ago (edited)

The sound of a Viggen on full afterburner is impossible to comprehend until you've heard it in person. It's just gloriously brutal, like the God of thunder going to war.

@guspriyol7211 6 months ago

One of the most beautiful airplanes ever built.

@linuslindgren1641 10 days ago

Industrial history told so well. I can only add to the previous comments, a remarkably thorough documentary of the Viggen project. Many thanks for the great work.

@KeithMoore-p6k 6 months ago

I've always been fascinated with Swedish engineering all. But the iron base computing is wild

@tonyb6821 5 months ago

USAF Acft Tech Veteran here. I "grew up" maintaining C-5 and C-141 acft and later C-17's so I got to see, use and repair these systems from the late 50's 60's up to "modern" fly by wire. The difference is astounding. These kids today have NO clue about the amazing power they hold in their hand now and what we accomplished with so "little" back then! AWESOME REAL HUMAN MADE VIDEO!!! I REFUSE to watch this new AI feces that jerks are putting out here now. You got a SUBSCRIBER to make sure REAL HUMANS keep making GREAT AND ACCURATE docs! Want "Part 2" bad now!

@Jon.A.Scholt 6 months ago

A video on the Viggen?? Let's Go!!!

@Boric78 6 months ago

Crazy - one of the most fascinating things I have watched in ages. The part on the iron ring, hand stitched computer was worth the admission alone. Seriously well done, I enjoyed your other stuff but this was next level.

@TomDOnofrio-m5i 6 months ago

The best memory I have of a Viggen was in Arboga, Sweden as a kid.

Me and other kids from the neighborhood were playing in the nearby forest when we heard a whining hugh pitched sound followed by a Huge fighter jet at low altitude streaking across the sky with a boom that made the worl turn off kilter. I know that pilot was later releaved of his duties, but what happened afterwards...? That is probably sealed in records somewhere.

It was So mighty!

The small beautiful town of Arboga also tested the engines for the Draken and Viggen and other fighters before them.

@klumhru 6 months ago

As a native Swedish speaker I was about to to start advising on pronouncing Swedish terms. Like flygstaben or, yikes, fleegstaiben 🫣. But no, I’m going to sit back, click like and enjoy the lack of ai slop. Thanks for the videos folks.

@sircosm 3 months ago

Talk of the Fartvektor at 1:07:45 is the ultimate "windication" of my perseverance

@LarsLindquist78 6 months ago

Amazing work as per usual!! , and as a Swede I’m especially grateful for keeping the memory of the viggen and the efforts it took to get it off the ground, preserved and alive !
If you ever get a chance to come to Gothenburg, Aeroseum is a great museum in 1950s era subterranean hangar at the former Save airforce base.
One thing that always amazed me was how much maintenance work they could do out in the field, like exchange the entire engine in less 45min and then be back to a sortie. Huge thanks again, /Lars