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SOKO G-2 Galeb
During the fifties YAF used 4 airplane types (AERO-3, 522, T-33 AND F-84G) during pilot education. It was very complex, so the AF issued a tactical-technical demands for a new jet trainer that would replace all 4 types in Military Aviation Academy.
Yugoslavia's VTI (Aeronautical Technical Institute) began design work on the airplane, named Galeb, in 1957. The first flight was in May 1961. Soon, after one full size wooden mockup, second prototype Galeb 2, G-2 was build - establishing the G-2 marking.
Galeb 1 had 3 rubber tanks in the fuselage, while Galeb 2 had 2 tanks and recognizable wing with tip tanks.
The Rolls-Royce Viper 22-6 turbojet with 1134-kg (2,500-lb) thrust was chosen for license production.
Production began in 1964, making it the first indigenous jet to be built in Yugoslavia. After 522 it was second aircraft built at SOKO, Mostar
Compared to the contemporary airplanes, one can conclude:
- Jet Provost was slower and less acrobatically, with side-by-side seating, better instruments and pressurized cabin
- Fouga Magister was suitable was advanced training
- Aermacchi MB-326 had practically the same acrobatically abilities, pressurized cabin, better navigation equipment but it there wasn't fixed guns or machine-guns and there wasn't ability to use grass runways
Maximum speed of 812 km/h at 6200 m was achieved using clean wing (no tip-tanks), with no paint and with polished airframe. Top diving speed was M=0.81, although after prolonged dive.
With-out pressurize cabin practical ceiling is 7000 m, or 9000 in shorter period. The pressurize cabin would add cost up to 15% because all devices would came from import, and AF needed trainer with secondary combat ability that could be used from unpaved (grass) runways. Engineers didn't have any idea what was the technical parameters for using grass runways so the landing gear was projected bearing in mind regulation for aircraft landing on carriers.
The Galeb features a straight wing with tip tanks, Folland Type 1 -B lightweight ejector seats, sideways hinging canopy transparencies and under wing hard points for light bombs and rockets.
Powered by aRolls-Royce Viper turbojet, the G2-A was the standard version for the Yugoslav air force. A G2-AE export variant became available from late 1974 and was built for Libya and Zambia.
The aircraft was very easy and forgiving in flight, with easy maintenance so students and technicians loved it. They regularly achieved 5000 hours in the air (the AF Museum G-2 had 6200 hours in his logbook).
Yugoslavia still retains one squadron ( 251 LBAE, Pumas, stationed at Golubovci) for primary training.
The Galeb was complemented by a generally similar but higher performance single-seat light attack/tactical reconnaissance version designated J-1 Jastreb (hawk), which had a strengthened airframe and was powered by the improved Rolls-Royce Viper 531 turbojet.
Specification
Type: Two seat trainer
Power plant: One 11.1 kN (2500lb) Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 22-6 turbojet.
Performance: Max speed at 20,350ft 812km/h (438kt), max speed at sea level 755km/h (408kt), max cruising speed at 19,685ft 730km/h (395kt). Max initial rate of climb 4500ft/min. Time to 19,685ft 5min 30sec. Service ceiling 39,375ft. Max range with tip tanks full at 29,520ft (9000ft) 1240km (670nm). Max endurance at 23,000ft 2hr 30min.
Weights: Empty equipped 2620kg (5775lb), max takeoff (strike version) 4300kg (9840lb).
Dimensions: Wing span over tip tanks 11.62m (38ft 2in), length overall 10.34m (33ft 11in), height overall 3.28m (10ft 9in). Wing area 19.4m² (209.1 sq. ft).
Accommodation: Two in tandem
Armament: Two 12.7mm machine guns in nose. Underwing hardpoints for two 50kg (110lb) or 100kg (220lb) bombs, two 127 mm or four 57 mm unguided rockets.
Operators: 130 Yugoslavia , 112 G-2A-E Libya, 6 G-2A-E Zambia, Croatia couple impounded on Udbina airfield
Last Modified: 20.02.03 12:36
© Copyright: Dragan Kostadinov
