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Soko G-2 Galeb

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G-2Galeb
Role Jet trainer and ground-attack
National origin Yugoslavia
Manufacturer SOKO
First flight 3 July1961
Status Limited service
Primary user Yugoslav Air Force

Libyan Air Force

Produced 1965–1985
Number built 248[1]
Variants J-21 Jastreb

TheSoko G-2 Galeb(fromSerbian:галеб,lit. 'seagull') is aYugoslavsingle engine, two-seaterjet trainerand lightground-attack aircraft.The G-2 was developed during the 1950s by theAeronautical Technical InstituteatŽarkovoas a replacement for theLockheed T-33in service with theYugoslav Air Force.Production started in 1965 at theSokoaircraft factory inMostar,and ended in 1985 with 248 aircraft delivered. The G-2 had the distinction of being the firstmass-producedjet aircraft in socialist Yugoslavia.[2]It also served as a basis for the single-seat ground-attackJ-21 Jastreb.

The RV i PVO took delivery of 128 aircraft that were used by the Air Force Academy for training new pilots. The second largest operator of the Galeb wasLibya,which acquired over 100 aircraft during the 1970s. A small number were also acquired byZaire,ZambiaandIndonesia.During thebreakup of Yugoslavia,the Galebs were used for ground attack sorties inCroatiaandBosnia and Herzegovina.By 1992, RV i PVO G-2s relocated to Serbia and Montenegro, where they operated with the Air Force of the newFederal Republic of Yugoslavia.The aircraft remained in service until 1999, when the majority of them were destroyed on ground during theNATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

The Libyan Air Force's G-2s were used during theLibyan Civil Warby Gaddafi forces, with an unknown number surviving the war and being reported in service as late as 2013. A single aircraft remains in service with the Technical Test Center of theSerbian Armed Forces.A number of aircraft are still flown by civilians aswarbirds,including the private aerobatic team "Stars" fromNovi Sad.

Development

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A G-2 Galeb on static display during the 1963 Paris Air Show

In 1957, Yugoslavia's VTI (Aeronautical Technical Institute) commenced design work on the aircraft, which would later receive the name Galeb. The principal purpose for the development of the Galeb was to produce a domestic replacement for the American-builtLockheed T-33 Shooting Star,which at the time was the most commonly used jet trainer aircraft in use by the Yugoslav Air Force; the Galeb was to be capable of meeting the varied qualities and requirements involved in performingab initio,intermediate, and advanced instructional training missions.[3]Primary manufacturing of the Galeb was performed by Yugoslav aircraft manufacturerSOKOat their facility inMostar,Bosnia and Herzegovina,which had been established earlier that decade in 1951.[3]

The Galeb was developed as a collaborative effort between Yugoslavia and theUnited Kingdom,and reportedly contributed significantly to the export value of the latter;.[3]a significant proportion of components and ancillary equipment, such as the powerplant, ejector seats, and navigational fittings amongst others, that were installed upon the aircraft had been sourced from or were directly produced by a range of British aerospace manufacturers.[3]According to aviation publicationFlight International,the heavy proportion of British equipment employed upon the Galeb was a decisive factor in the appearance of the aircraft at the 1968Farnborough Airshow.[3]

Sponsorship for the aircraft's development was provided by the British engine manufacturerRolls-Royce Limited,whoseArmstrong Siddeley Viperturbojetengine was selected to power the type.[2]The selection of the Viper engine to power the type had been motivated by a broad requirement for a simplistic powerplant that would be easy to service and be robust in spite of the inevitably rough handling performed by inexperienced pilots during flight training, as well as being easy to install within the airframe and possessing modest turbine inlet temperatures.[3]

A total of two prototype aircraft were built to conduct the type's flight test program.[3]On 3 July 1961, themaiden flightof the first of these prototypes, referred to as Galeb 1, was performed by test pilot captain Ljubomir Zekavica. The principal difference between the Galeb 1 prototype and the later Galeb 2 was that Galeb 1 had three rubber tanks in thefuselage,while the later Galeb 2 employed a total of two fuselage tanks holding 230 gallons (US) and two wingtip tanks holding 51 gallons (US) each. Following the completion of a full-size wooden mock-up, the second prototype Galeb 2 was constructed - establishing the G-2 type designation.[citation needed]

During flight tests, a maximum speed of 812 km/h (440 kt) at 6,200 m (20,100 ft) was achieved inclean configuration,with no paint and a polished airframe. Top diving speed was Mach 0.81, which could be obtained during a prolonged dive from high altitude.[citation needed]According to Soko's chief test pilot, captain Dusan Krvavica, the Galeb is "unfatiguing and easy to fly"; other favourable attributes of the aircraft include docilestallcharacteristics and being capable of conservative touchdown speeds.[4]

The G-2 Galeb made its first appearance outside of Yugoslavia at the 1963Paris Air Show.[3]

In 1964, production of the G-2 commenced, making it the first indigenously-developed jet aircraft to enter mass production in Yugoslavia (the first jet-powered plane built by Yugoslavia was theIkarus 451Min 1952, which did not enter production).[2]After theSoko 522,it was the second aircraft built atSOKO.The first production series G-2-A was entered in the aircraft register of theYugoslav Air Forceon 30 July 1965, and the last one on 6 January 1981. The G-2-A was known within the 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.

Design

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A Serbian G-2 Galeb atKecskemet Air Base,Hungary,2010

The G-2 Galeb is a versatile trainer aircraft, suited for carrying out a varied range of training missions to minimize number of aircraft needed to meet an operator's overall training requirements.[5]The aircraft is flown by a crew of two, typically a candidate pilot and an instructor, which are seated in atandemcockpit layout, the candidate being typically placed in the forward position; both crew members are provided withFollandType 1-B lightweightejector seats.[6]

The Galeb is powered by a singleArmstrong Siddeley ViperII Mark 22/6turbojetengine, capable of providing up to 2,500lb of thrust.[7]According to Flight International, the Viper engine provides the aircraft to perform rapid and stall-free acceleration under all conditions.[4]The Galeb has a simple structure, using conventional stressed-skin construction using frames andbulkheads.The rear fuselage, which attaches to the main fuselage of the aircraft just behind the cockpit canopy, enables a high level of accessibility to the engine and the surrounding section; the forward fuselage contains to the tandem cockpit, integral center-section, and most systems. Tail unit pick-up points are present on the rear fuselage bulkhead.[4]The Galeb features an all-metal straight wing, complete with tip tanks; thelanding gearretracts into the wings rather than the fuselage.[6]

Thehydraulicsystem include an engine-drivenhydraulic pump,a hydraulic reservoir/accumulator, and filter. The electrical systems involve a 24-voltbattery, a high-energy ignition system, generator, landing and taxi lamps, navigation lighting, and an anti-collision beacon.[8]Pneumaticsystems comprise ableed aircompressor,de-icing/de-mistingmeasures, and elements of theenvironmental control system.[7]

An operational G-2 Galeb on display at Batajnica Air Show 2012

In the absence of a pressurized cabin, the aircraft's practical ceiling is between 7,000 (22,800 ft) and 9,000 m (29,000 ft). According to Soko, a pressurised cabin was developed by 1968 for the Galeb and was made available to customers.[4]The Air Force needed a trainer with secondary combat ability that could operate from unprepared runways; being unfamiliar with such requirements, the designers provided for landing gear strong enough to make the aircraft suitable for landing on aircraft carriers.[citation needed]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.[citation needed]

The trainer-orientated Galeb has few design differences to the ground attack-orientatedSoko J-21 Jastreb;[4]aside from strengthening of the airframe, one distinct difference between the two aircraft is the deletion of the rear cockpit on the J-21 Jastreb, this location has instead been covered by afairingand the internal space used to contain avionics and other aircraft equipment.[9]The Galeb is readily capable of performing ground attack missions in addition to its training role, being fitted with underwinghardpointsthat are compatible with a range of munitions, such as bombs and rockets, along with 12.7mm machine guns; to conduct reconnaissance missions, camera equipment could also be installed upon for the aircraft.[8]

Operational history

[edit]
A G-2 Galeb, 2008

The G-2-A Galeb was the standard version operated by the Yugoslav Air Force. They were used primarily for school-combat training of VVA (Military Air Force Academy) cadets, thus the largest number of these aircraft was located within the VVA units. By 1968, the Galeb was reportedly being used for the training of the majority of the Yugoslav Air Force's pilots.[3]

The aircraft was reportedly 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 on display in theYugoslav Aeronautical Museumhad 6,200 hours in its logbook).[1]A G-2-AE export variant became available from late 1974 and was built forLibyaandZambia.

During the early 2000s, a Serbian jet display team, The Stars (aka Zvezde), was formed; they conducted their international debut using a total of four G-2 Galebs at the Air Borne 2007 airshow at the Rakica.[10]

Balkans

[edit]
Further information:Bosnian War

The G-2-A Galeb saw extensive combat use by the 105th Fighter-Bomber Regiment of the Yugoslav Air Force over Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Bosnian War.United Nationspersonnel stationed inCroatiaobserved multiple Galebs departUdbinain Serb-controlled territory to conduct strike missions.[11]

First Congo War

[edit]
Further information:First Congo War

According to some reports,Franceand Yugoslavia supportedMobutu's government during the First Congo War. Namely, Yugoslavia agreed to dispatch three J-21 and one G-2 aircraft, as well as fourMiG-21PFMs, while threeMi-24swere purchased fromUkraineand sent to the region as well. All these aircraft were based atGbadolite Airportin theNord-Ubangi District,and were flown mainly by Serbianmercenaries.[citation needed]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 1996-1997. 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.[citation needed]

The fate of at least one J-21 Jastreb was not much better: Ratko Turčinović, one of the Serbian mercenaries, 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 onto a column of young soldiers on a parade, causing dozens of deaths amongst them. Turčinović is alleged to have fallen victim to a personal alcohol problem.[12]After this event, the Serbs were expelled and the Jastrebs and Galebs were abandoned along with the MiG-21s and two Mi-24s which were meant to be put together by group of Russian or Ukrainian technicians at Gbadolite but the assembly work was never completed.[citation needed]

Libya

[edit]

TheLibyan Air Forcewas a prolific operator of the type; by 2002, it reportedly possessed a total of 80 G-2 Galeb aircraft remaining in its inventory.[13]

The type was used extensively during the2011 Libyan civil warby government forces fighting against a popular uprising centered in the Eastern region of Libya. Forces loyal to Libyan leaderColonel Gaddafiused the type to routinely perform ground attack missions upon rebel forces. On 24 March 2011, one G-2 Galeb was destroyed after landing by aFrench Air ForceDassault Rafaleafter it had violated the declaredNo-Fly ZoneoverMisrata.[14][15]The following day, a further five G-2 aircraft together with twoMil Mi-35helicopters were reportedly destroyed by French combat aircraft operating in the same area; satellite imagery later revealed that these five aircraft had in fact beenMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23fighters instead.[16]

During the currentSecond Libyan Civil War,Islamist forces fromLibya Dawn(led by the unrecognizednew General National Congressbased in Tripoli) are reported to have two to four Galebs in service.[17]However, their actual operational status is hard to determine.

[edit]

Before theYugoslav Wars,at least a dozen Galebs were purchased by Americanwarbirddealers, and several are still on the civil register today.[18]Other operators are located in Indonesia, Serbia, New Zealand, Slovenia and the United States. It's been also used in Air combat scenes of theAces: Iron Eagle IIImovie.

Variants

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Serbian Aerobatic team "Flying Stars" on anairshowinSlovenia,2008
G-2-A
Two-seat advanced jet trainer, light attack aircraft.
G-2A-E[clarification needed]
Two-seat export version forLibyaandZambia.
G-2Š
Unarmed trainer.
G3 Galeb-3
Prototype of export version first flown 19 August 1970, withBMB (Rolls-Royce/Bristol Siddeley) Viper Mk 532Turbojetengine from J-21 Jastreb, modern cockpit, cameras in tip-tanks, weapon load doubled,JATOand other modifications.[19]

Operators

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Current operators

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Libya
Serbia

Former operators

[edit]
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Indonesia
  • IPTNhave 1 G-2 Galeb, registered as PK-XGS. This aircraft was used as chaser forIPTN N-250first flight. As of 2018 stored at Indonesian Aerospace hangar inBandungwith N-250 prototypes.[22]
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
  • Libyan Air Force− (G-2A-E version) Initially 116 (5 aircraft captured during 2011 conflict at Misrata).
LibyaAnti-Gaddafi forces
  • Free Libyan Air Force− (G-2A-E version) 5 aircraft captured from the Gaddafist air force at Misrata Airport on 24 February 2011.[23]
A Yugoslav G-2 Galeb on display at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade
Yugoslavia
Zaire
  • 1 Galeb delivered together with 3 Jastrebs as part of a French-Yugoslav contract in 1997.[25]
Zambia

Private operators

[edit]

Specifications (G-2-A)

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Soko G-2A Galeb
Preserved Rolls-Royce Viper inRAF Museum Cosford

Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83,[28]Flight International[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew:2
  • Length:10.34 m (33 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan:11.62 m (38 ft 1 in) with tip-tanks
10.47 m (34 ft) without tip-tanks
3,488 kg (7,690 lb) (basic trainer without tip-tanks)
3,828 kg (8,439 lb) (nav trainer with tip-tanks)
3,988 kg (8,792 lb) (weapons trainer)
4,300 kg (9,480 lb) (strike mission)
  • Fuel capacity:780 kg (1,720 lb) internal + 340 kg (750 lb) in two optional wing-tip drop tanks
  • Powerplant:1 × DMB license-builtRolls-Royce Viper ASV.11 Mk 22-6turbojetengine, 11.12 kN (2,500 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed:756 km/h (470 mph, 408 kn) at sea level
812 km/h (505 mph; 438 kn) at 6,200 m (20,300 ft)
  • Stall speed:158 km/h (98 mph, 85 kn) flaps down and airbrakes out
180 km/h (110 mph; 97 kn) flaps up and airbrakes in
  • Range:669 km (416 mi, 361 nmi) at 9,000 m (30,000 ft) with full tip-tanks
  • Endurance:2 hours30 minutes at 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
  • Service ceiling:12,000 m (39,000 ft)
  • g limits:+8-4
  • Rate of climb:22.83 m/s (4,494 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude:
  • 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 2 minutes 24 seconds
  • 6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 5 minutes 30 seconds
  • 9,000 m (30,000 ft) in 10 minutes 12 seconds
  • Take-off run:490 m (1,610 ft) on grass
  • Landing run:400 m (1,300 ft) on grass
  • Take-off run to 15 m (49 ft):640 m (2,100 ft)
  • Landing run from 15 m (49 ft):710 m (2,330 ft)

Armament

  • Guns:2× 12.7 mm (0.500 in) machine guns in nose with 80 rpg
  • Hardpoints:4 with a capacity of 300 kg (661 lb) total

Avionics
full IFR instrumentation with comms

See also

[edit]
External videos
video iconG-2 Galeb performing at the Classic Fighters 2005 airshow, Blenheim, New Zealand
video iconStill images of the restoration of a pair of Galeb aircraft
video iconAerobatic Team STARS performing using four Galeb aircraft

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ab"Aeronautical Museum-Belgrade:: Treasure of Museum".Retrieved6 February2015.
  2. ^abc"Twenty-Sixth SBAC Show... Military Research Aircraft."Flight International,19 September 1968. p. 450.
  3. ^abcdefghiFlight International,28 November 1968. p. 901.
  4. ^abcdeFlight International,28 November 1968. p. 904.
  5. ^Flight International,28 November 1968. pp. 901, 903.
  6. ^abFlight International,28 November 1968. pp. 902-903.
  7. ^abcFlight International,28 November 1968. p. 902.
  8. ^abFlight International,28 November 1968. p. 903.
  9. ^Flight International,28 November 1968. p. 905.
  10. ^Bozinovski, Igor."PICTURES - Serbia's Stars in aerobatic display."Flight International,29 June 2007.
  11. ^Solli 1996, p. 27.
  12. ^Adrian Roman."Zaire/DR Congo 1980 - 2001".www.acig.org.Retrieved6 February2015.
  13. ^"Census: military aircraft."Flight International,18 February 2002. p. 48.
  14. ^"U.S. Welcomes NATO's Decision to Enforce No-Fly Zone Over Libya".Fox News.24 March 2011.
  15. ^Hoyle, Craig."Rafale destroys Libyan jet, as France steps up action."Flight International,25 March 2011.
  16. ^"UPDATE 1-French forces destroy seven Libyan aircraft on ground".Reuters.26 March 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 8 September 2012.
  17. ^Guy Martin."Libyan MiG-25 destroyed in crash".defenceweb.co.za.Retrieved6 August2015.
  18. ^"Warbird Alley: Soko Galeb".warbirdalley.com.Retrieved6 August2015.
  19. ^"Air Serbia zvanična stranica - airserbia.com".Retrieved6 February2015.
  20. ^Hoyle 2023,p. 23.
  21. ^Hoyle 2023,p. 29.
  22. ^"Soko G-2 Galeb: Dari Jet Latih Tempur Dikenang Sebagai Pesawat Chaser N-250".indomiliter.com(in Indonesian). 17 September 2018.Retrieved28 March2021.
  23. ^"misurata airport.wmv".YouTube.31 December 1969.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.Retrieved6 February2015.
  24. ^"Aviation Photos".Retrieved6 February2015.
  25. ^"Zaire/DR Congo since 1980".Retrieved6 February2015.
  26. ^Taylor 1982, p. 487.
  27. ^"The full story behind Travolta's private jet fleet".BEAM.Retrieved3 March2019.
  28. ^Taylor 1982, pp. 487–488.
  29. ^Lednicer, David."The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".m-selig.ae.illinois.edu.Retrieved16 April2019.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Gunston, Bill.The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes: The Development and Specifications of All Active Military Aircraft.New York: MetroBooks, 1995.ISBN1-58663-207-8.
  • Gunston, Bill.Encyclopedia Of World Air Power.London: Crescent, 1987.ISBN0-517-49969-X.
  • Taylor John W. R.Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83.London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982.ISBN0-7106-0748-2.
  • Ripley, Tim and Mark Rolfe.Conflict in the Balkans 1991-2000.Osprey Publishing, 2013.ISBN1-4728-0383-3.
  • "Soko Galeb and Jastreb."Flight International,28 November 1968. pp. 901-905.
  • Solli, Per Erik.UN and NATO Air Power in the Former Yugoslavia.Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, 1996.
  • Winchester, Jim, ed.Military Aircraft of the Cold War(The Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books plc, 2006.ISBN1-84013-929-3.
  • Hoyle, Craig, ed. (December 2023)."World Air Forces 2024".FlightGlobal.Retrieved10 March2024.
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