
Flight Notes how to fly the GALEB
All the Yugoslav aircraft factories that had existed before World War II were destroyed during the German occupation, and it was some two or three years after 1945 before it was possible to resume design and construction. Established as Preduzece SOKO in 1951, and now named SOKO Vazduhoplovna Inclustrija, Ro Vazduplovstvo, Soko begun license construction of various foreign aircraft before with Yugoslavia's VTI (Aeronautical Technical Institute) began design work on the G2-A Galeb began in 1957.
The SOKO G2-A Galeb (seagull) is two-seat advanced trainer where stability at low speeds and balanced control surfaces ensure comfortable handling and safe aerobatics training. Take off and landing from unprepared grass airfields are also possible. The first of two prototypes was flown during May 1961 and production was started in 1963. Powered by the famous Rolls Royce Viper Mk22-6 engine, the G2-A was the standard version for the Yugoslav air force. The Galeb features a straight wing with tip tanks, Folland Type 1-B lightweight ejector seats, sideways hinging canopy transparencies and underwing hardpoints for light bombs and rockets. In all, around 270 Galebs were built for the Yugoslav air force, Libya, which took delivery of 120, and Zambia (six). A G2-AE export variant became available from late 1974 and was built for Libya and Zambia.
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. Production of all versions of the Jastreb ended during 1978, and of the G-2A Galeb in 1983.
Electronics & operational equipment: Standard communication
and navigation equipment, plus (fire control and weapons management)
Ferranti ISIS D-126R gyro sight, there is also provision in the rear
cockpit for a reconnaissance camera with 125-exposure magazine
Armament: Two 12.7mm machine guns in nose. Underwing hardpoints for two 50kg (110lb) or 100kg (220lb) bombs and four rockets.
Payloads |
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Specifications
U.S. | Metric | |
Cruise Speed at 19,685ft | 395 knots | 730 km per hour |
Max Operating Speed | 438 knots - Mach 0.8 | 812 km per hour |
Max Speed at Sea Level | 408 knots | 755 km per hour |
Engines | One 11.1 kN (2500lb) Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 22-6 turbojet | |
Maximum Range at 29,520ft | 670 nm | 1,240 km |
Service Ceiling | 39,375 feet | 12,000 meters |
Fuel Capacity | 2,500 (1,740+760) pounds | 1,120 (780+340) kilograms |
Maximum Takeoff Weight - HGW | 9,840 pounds | 4,300 kilograms |
Length | 33.11 feet | 10.34 meters |
Wingspan over tip tanks | 38.2 feet | 11.62 meters |
Height | 10.9 feet | 3.28 meters |
Crew | 2 |