About thirteen years ago F7, as the first unit of the Armed Forces, started to fly the JAS 39 Gripen Version A. On Monday 1.div began its operations with the JAS 39 Gripen C. During four weeks, eight pilots were at F21 to train on the new airplane.
Foto: John Lidman/F 7/Försvarsmakten
On the outside, it does not show any significant differences, but they are there. The C-version has, among other things, reinforced landing gear to withstand heavier loads. The new APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) isalso significantly less noisy than the previous A-version.
It is on the inside of the aircraft the most significant differences lies including: the screens have become larger and are now in color. The navigation system now covers the whole earth, and instead of measuring the height and speed in meters and kilometers per hour, feet and knots are now used, something that is a challenge for both pilots and air traffic control personnel.
The reason that it is 1.div that has trained on the new version is that they in turn will train the four Thai pilots coming to F7 on 1th March. Initially, however 3.div is responsible for the training, and then on the A version, until the instructor at 1.div have reached the status required for taking over the education.
In the current situation there are two 39C at F7, one of which is borrowed from F21. These will be expanded to eight (5 C, 3 D) until it is time to school the Thai pilots. A and C versions are single-seaters, while the B and D versions are two-seaters.
Flotilla simulators are also upgraded. The MMT-simulator (multi-mission trainer) was completed a week ago, and the larger FMS Simulator (full-mission simulator) will be completed this summer.
(Source in swedish)
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