Soko G-2 Galeb
| G-2 Galeb | |
|---|---|
| |
| Soko G-2A Galeb | |
| Role | Jet trainer and ground-attack |
| Manufacturer | SOKO |
| Designer | Aeronautical Technical Institute |
| First flight | May 1961 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Libyan Air Force |
| Produced | 1964-1985 |
| Number built | 248 [citation needed] |
| Variants | J-21 Jastreb |
The SOKO G-2 Galeb (English: Seagull) is a two-seat, single engine, jet trainer and ground-attack aircraft developed in Yugoslavia.
Design and development
Yugoslavia's VTI (Aeronautical Technical Institute) began design work on the airplane, named Galeb, in 1957. 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. The first flight of the prototype, Galeb 1, was performed by captain Ljubomir Zekavica on 31 July 1961. Galeb 1 had three rubber tanks in the fuselage, while Galeb 2 had two fuselage tanks holding 230 gallons (US) and two wingtip tanks holding 51 gallons (US) each. Soon, after a full-size wooden mock-up, the second prototype Galeb 2 was built - establishing the G-2 type designation.
During flight tests, a maximum speed of 812 km/h (440 kt) at 6,200 m (20,100 ft) was achieved in clean configuration, with no paint and a polished airframe. Top diving speed was Mach 0.81, obtained after a prolonged dive.
Without a pressurized cabin the practical ceiling is between 7,000 (22,800 ft) and 9,000 m (29,000 ft). A pressurized cabin would have increased costs by up to 15% because all components needed to be imported. The Air Force needed a trainer with secondary combat ability that could operate from unprepared runways. Not familiar with such requirements, the designers provided for landing gear strong enough to make the aircraft suitable for landing on aircraft carriers.
The need for a safe training aircraft that is forgiving on landings meant that the wheels retract into the wings instead of the fuselage, making for a heavier, straight wing, which is less likely to stall on landing, but precludes supersonic flight. It was flown primarily by the Air Academy of Yugoslavia. Production ceased in 1985.
Production began in 1964, making it the first indigenous jet to enter mass production in Yugoslavia (the first jet-powered plane built by Yugoslavia was the Ikarus 451M in 1952, which did not enter production). After the Soko 522, it was the second aircraft built at SOKO, Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The first production series G-2A was entered in the aircraft register of the Yugoslav Air Force on 30 July 1965, and the last one on 6 January 1981. The G-2A was known in Yugoslav military under the N-60 designation. Production of updated aircraft for export to Libya was extended until mid-1983. Soko produced a total of 248 Galeb aircraft, 132 of which were used by the Yugoslav Air Force.
Operational history
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2011) |
Powered by a license-built Rolls Royce Viper Mk 22-6 turbojet, the G2-A was the standard version for the Yugoslav Air Force. They were used primarily for school-combat training of VVA (Military Air Force Academy) cadets, so that the largest number of these aircraft was located in the VVA units. The aircraft was very easy and forgiving in flight, with easy maintenance, so students and technicians loved it.[citation needed] They regularly achieved 5,000 hours in the air (the G-2 Galeb in the Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum had 6,200 hours in its logbook).[citation needed] A G2-AE export variant became available from late 1974 and was built for Libya and Zambia.
Balkans
The G-2A was used extensively by the 105th Fighter-Bomber Regiment of the Yugoslav Air Force, in combat over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
First Congo War
According to some reports, France and Yugoslavia supported Mobutu's government during the First Congo War. Namely, Yugoslavia agreed to deliver three J-21 and one G-2 aircraft, as well as four MiG-21s, while three Mi-24s were purchased from Ukraine. All these aircraft were based at Gbadolite and flown mainly by Serbian mercenaries.
With few exceptions it remains unknown exactly what happened with each of these aircraft and how were they used after their arrival in Zaire, in late 1997. The MiG-21s arrived in kit form and were put together by group of Russian or Ukrainian technicians at Gbadolite. In the case of Mi-24s it is known that one hit a power line and crashed on 27 March 1997, killing the three crewmen and four passengers. The fate of at least one J-21 Jastreb was not much better: sometime in 1997 one of the Serbian mercenaries, called Turcinovic, was killed while flying an ultra-low-level pass over Gbadolite and clipping a lamp post with his wing. The wreckage of his aircraft fell directly into a column of young soldiers on a parade, killing dozens of them. Turcinovic apparently fell victim to a massive liquor problem.[1]
Libya
Colonel Gaddafi's forces have used the type to attack rebel forces during the 2011 Libyan civil war. One was destroyed after landing on 24 March 2011 by a French Dassault Rafale after violating the No-Fly-Zone over Misrata.[2] Another five together with 2 Mi-35 helicopters were reported destroyed by the French Air Force in the same area the following day, but satellite images showed that the five fixed wing aircraft were MiG-23s.[3][4]
Popular warbird
Before the Yugoslav Wars, at least a dozen Galebs were purchased by American warbird dealers, and several are still on the civil register today.[5] Other operators are located in Indonesia, Serbia, New Zealand, Slovenia and the United States.
Variants
- G-2A
- Two-seat advanced jet trainer, light attack aircraft.
- G-2A-E
- Two-seat export version for Libya and Zambia.
- G-2Š
- Unarmed trainer.
- G-3 Galeb-3
- Prototype of export version first flown 19 August 1970, with BMB (Rolls-Royce/Bristol Siddeley) Viper Mk 532 Turbojet engine from J-21 Jastreb, modern cockpit, cameras in tip-tanks, twice as higher capacity for armament, JATO (rocket engines for the reduction of takeoff) and other modifications.[6]
Operators
- Libyan Air Force - (G2A-E version) 116 (rebels captured 5 aircraft at Misrata Airport on 24 February 2011 as part of the 2011 Libyan civil war. A separate aircraft was destroyed on the ground by a French fighter with an air-to-ground missile as it was landing near Misurata on 24 March 2011 as part of the 2011 military intervention in Libya.)[7] Another five together with 2 Mi-35 helicopters were reported destroyed by the French Air Force in the same area the following day, but satellite images showed that the five fixed wing aircraft were MiG-23s.[8][9]
- Free Libyan Air Force - (G2A-E version) 5 aircraft captured from the Libyan Air Force at Misrata Airport on 24 February 2011.[10]
United States Training Purposes
Former Operators
- Yugoslav Air Force - former
- Croatian Air Force briefly flew 3 examples captured during Operation Storm[citation needed]
- 1 Galeb delivered together with 3 Jastrebs as part of a French - Yugoslav contract in 1997.[11]
- Zambian Air Force[12], two aircraft delivered in 1971
Specifications (G-2A)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[13]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Internal fuel load: 780 kg (1,720 lb)
- External fuel load: Up to 340 kg (750 lb) in two wing-tip drop tanks
Performance
Armament
- Guns: 2× 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns in nose
- Hardpoints: 4 with a capacity of 300 kg (660 lb) total
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Aero L-29 Delfín
- BAC Jet Provost
- Fouga Magister
- Aermacchi MB-326
- PZL TS-11 Iskra
- Hispano HA-200
- Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
References
Notes
- ^ aviation lists
- ^ "U.S. Welcomes NATO's Decision to Enforce No-Fly Zone Over Libya". Fox News. 24 March 2011.
- ^ "UPDATE 1-French forces destroy seven Libyan aircraft on ground". Reuters. 26 March 2011.
- ^ http://cencio4.wordpress.com/
- ^ Warbird Alley: Galeb page
- ^ Galeb-3 Jet Trainer
- ^ "Gadhafi's Warplane Shot Down by French Fighter Jets in Misrata". ABC News. 24 Mar 2011. Retrieved 24 Mar 2011.
- ^ "UPDATE 1-French forces destroy seven Libyan aircraft on ground". Reuters. 26 March 2011.
- ^ http://cencio4.wordpress.com/
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0orW5K8Xoas&feature=related
- ^ Zaire/DR Congo since 1980
- ^ Taylor 1982, p. 487.
- ^ Taylor 1982, pp. 487–488.
- ^ with wingtip tanks - 10.47 m (34 ft 4½ in without tanks)
Bibliography
- Gunston, Bill. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes: The Development and Specifications of All Active Military Aircraft. New York: MetroBooks, 1995. ISBN 1-58663-207-8.
- Gunston, Bill. Encyclopedia Of World Air Power. London: Crescent, 1987. ISBN 0-517-49969-X.
- Taylor John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
- Winchester, Jim, ed. Military Aircraft of the Cold War (The Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books plc, 2006. ISBN 1-84013-929-3.
External links
