Danish TF-35 Dragons in use in USAF

[Founder]

I was watching a program about stealth on National Geographic this evening and I was stunned when I saw that the "National Test Pilot School" in Mojave, USA were using old Danish SAAB TF-35 Dragons as test aircraft...

From what I've read about these aircraft Denmark lent these aircraft to the US for testing but they were never returned.

One of the aircrafts showed up on e-bay a couple of years ago but the sale was canceled by the Swedish Airforce and FVM Swedish Military Material Organization.

Does anyone know anything more about the history of these planes?

http://www.ntps.edu/Image/Aircraft/Large/Draken2.jpg

[FougaMagister]

You should try posting on the military aircrew forum. The USAF Test Pilot School is based at Edwards AFB; the National Test Pilot School (a civilian, private outfit) at Mojave Airport. AFAIK, the twin Drakens :ok: only fly with the latter.

Cheers :cool:

[ORAC]

Six TF-35s is were sold to the National Test Pilot School, aircraft IDs:

Single seat:
AT-157/N169TP (351157)
AT-154/N168TP (351154)
AT-153/N167TP (351153)
AT-151/N166TP (351151)

Twin seat:
AR-117/N217FR
AR-110/N117FR

[Ignition Override]

Speaking of foreign jets flying in the US, do you guys (gals) realize that after the ' Iron Curtain' came down, a clever guy imported the Czech trainer jets, mostly the Let-39 tandem-seat trainer? Some Let-29 Delfins also were imported.
The late founder of Atlas Airlines owned a Let-39.

The point?
If you have the money, somebody will sell you anything which is legal to import, whether or not you have the required skill (experience level and currency) to fly it.

They are kept in the hangar at Millington, TN (NQA), and Fort Meyers, FL (RSW), to name a few places.

[West Coast]

"If you have the money, somebody will sell you anything which is legal to import, whether or not you have the required skill (experience level and currency) to fly it"

Your post seems quite ironic seeing as Chowdry died flying one of the types he imported.

[vapilot2004]

A weapons research firm (also in the Mojave desert) owns five F-35 Drakens.

S/N:
35-1106
35-1116
35-1155
35-1156
35-1020

Two other F-35s are owned by a company in Newport News, Virginia.

S/N:
35-1111
35-1119

I have no idea what they do with them but intend to find out. :8


While I cannot say for sure if Saab Drakens (or Dragons) visit Edwards often, many an airman at that base would have been very familiar with a certain lady Dragon over the years. :cool:

[Hook744]

I just want to help you guys a bit :)

The Ex danish air force Draken was sold between 1993 and 1994 to Flight Test Dynamics and NTPS.

All Draken aircraft from RDAF named AT- is a two seater
and AR- is single.

A = Fighter/Bomber
AR = Reconnaissance/fighter
AT = Trainer

NTPS has only 3 of the 6 aircraft thats flying.

Twin seat:
AT-157/N169TP (351157) Flying
AT-154/N168TP (351154) Flying
AT-153/N167TP (351153) stored for Sparparts
AT-151/N166TP (351151) stored for Sparparts

Single seat:
AR-117/N217FR (351117) Flying
AR-110/N117FR (351110) stored for Sparparts

ATAC has
AR-111 /N111XD Flying
AR-119 /N119XD Flying

AT-156/N156XD Crashlanded from what i heard!

But i have no information on
A-020/N20XD
AR-106/N106XD
AR-116/N116XD
AT-155/N155XD