F 7 Såtenäs
Encyclopedia
F 7 Såtenäs, Skaraborgs
Flygflottilj, Skaraborg Air Force Wing, or simply "F 7", is a Swedish Air Force
wing
with the main base located near Lidköping
in south-central Sweden
.
The decision to set up the air wing was made in 1936, but disagreements in choosing a location delayed the commissioning. The Såtenäs estate was chosen for its good location and close proximity to suitable target ranges, and was purchased for 685,000 SEK
in 1938.
The first squadrons were set up by B 16A Caproni
purchased from Italy
at the start of World War II
. These wooden construction aircraft were not suitable for the Nordic climate and soon got the nickname "flying coffins". They were replaced in 1941 by the Swedish B 17A
that served throughout the war.
In 1946, the three bomber squadrons were converted to attack squadrons with the introduction of A 21
, although for a brief number of years between 1948-1951, B 18
medium bombers were transferred from F 1 Hässlö
.
In 1951, the wing converted to jets
with receiving A 21R
converted from fighter to attack role from F 10 Ängelholm
. These were only kept for three years until the introduction of A 29B
in 1954. After only two years, they were in turn replaced by the new A 32A in 1956.
In 1964 a new transport squadron was set up with the introduction of the Tp 84 Hercules
. Initially, only one aircraft was purchased, but a total of eight were introduced between 1965 and 1985. They are currently being used in international transport of Swedish armed forces.
In 1973 the AJ 37 replaced the A 32, and the number of attack squadrons was reduced from three to two. The Viggens served until 1993, when one squadron was converted to the new JAS 39 Gripen
. The second squadron followed suit in 1998.
F 7 is the main center for the entire Gripen system, and all training of pilots (including that of foreign operators) is carried out here.
Skaraborg County
Skaraborg County, or Skaraborgs län, was a county of Sweden until December 31, 1998 when it was merged with the counties of Gothenburg and Bohus and Älvsborg to form Västra Götaland County....
Flygflottilj, Skaraborg Air Force Wing, or simply "F 7", is a Swedish Air Force
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
with the main base located near Lidköping
Lidköping
Lidköping is a locality and the seat of Lidköping Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 27,941 inhabitants in 2005.It is neatly situated on the southern shore of Lake Vänern and sometimes refers to itself as "Lidköping by Vänern", possibly to distinguish itself from Linköping near...
in south-central Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
History of the airbase
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
in 1938.
The first squadrons were set up by B 16A Caproni
Caproni Ca.313
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Alonzo, F.S, Il Caproni Ca.313 in Svezia, Storia militare magazine n.64 page 15.* Neulen, Hans Werner. In the Skies of Europe. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-799-1....
purchased from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. These wooden construction aircraft were not suitable for the Nordic climate and soon got the nickname "flying coffins". They were replaced in 1941 by the Swedish B 17A
Saab 17
-References:* Jane, Fred T. “The Saab-17.” Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0....
that served throughout the war.
In 1946, the three bomber squadrons were converted to attack squadrons with the introduction of A 21
Saab 21
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Billing, Peter. "A Fork-Tailed Swede." Air Enthusiast Twenty-two, August–November 1983. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press Ltd., 1983....
, although for a brief number of years between 1948-1951, B 18
Saab 18
|-See also:-References:CitationsBibliography* Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Orbis, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5....
medium bombers were transferred from F 1 Hässlö
F 1 Hässlö
F 1 Hässlö, Kungliga Västmanlands Flygflottilj, Royal Västmanland Air Force Wing, or simply "F 1", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located at Hässlö Flygplats near Västerås in central Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
.
In 1951, the wing converted to jets
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
with receiving A 21R
Saab 21R
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andersson, Hans G. Saab Aircraft since 1937 . London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-831-3....
converted from fighter to attack role from F 10 Ängelholm
F 10 Ängelholm
F 10 Ängelholm, Skånska Flygflottiljen, Scania Air Force Wing, or simply "F 10", is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in southernmost Sweden.- History of the airbase :...
. These were only kept for three years until the introduction of A 29B
Saab Tunnan
The Saab 29, popularly called Flygande tunnan , was a Swedish fighter designed and manufactured by Saab in the 1950s. It was Sweden's second turbojet-powered combat aircraft, the first being the Saab 21R...
in 1954. After only two years, they were in turn replaced by the new A 32A in 1956.
In 1964 a new transport squadron was set up with the introduction of the Tp 84 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
. Initially, only one aircraft was purchased, but a total of eight were introduced between 1965 and 1985. They are currently being used in international transport of Swedish armed forces.
In 1973 the AJ 37 replaced the A 32, and the number of attack squadrons was reduced from three to two. The Viggens served until 1993, when one squadron was converted to the new JAS 39 Gripen
JAS 39 Gripen
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single-engine multirole fighter manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was designed to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force...
. The second squadron followed suit in 1998.
F 7 is the main center for the entire Gripen system, and all training of pilots (including that of foreign operators) is carried out here.
See also
- Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed ForcesThe Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
- Swedish Air ForceSwedish Air ForceThe Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
- List of military aircraft of Sweden