Soko G-4 Super Galeb

G-4 Super Galeb
A Serbian Air Force G-4 Super Galeb
Role Military trainer aircraft
Manufacturer SOKO
Designer Aeronautical Technical Institute
First flight 17 July 1978
Introduction 1983
Status In service
Primary user Serbian Air Force
Produced 1984–1991
Number built 85[1]
Unit cost
$4.2 million (in 2010 U.S. dollars)[2]

The Soko G-4 Super Galeb (English: Super Seagull) is a single-engine, advanced jet trainer and light ground-attack aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Technical Institute and manufactured by SOKO of Yugoslavia.[3]

Development

Super Galeb G-4 of YAF at Farnborough Airshow, UK in 1984.
Super Galeb G-4, marking the 30th anniversary of flying 1978-2008.

The G-4 Super Galeb was developed as a replacement for the G-2 Galeb, which had been the most commonly used jet trainer aircraft of the Yugoslav Air Force up until 1990. The first of two prototypes was completed by early 1978. Following completion of the initial testing phase, the first flight was achieved on 17 July 1978 and the first of six pre-production aircraft on 17 December 1980. These and the first prototype were designated G-4 PPP, and had fixed tailplanes with inset elevators and no anhedral.[4] Production examples (and the second prototype) were designated G-4 and featured an all-moving anhedral tailplane and comprehensive avionics improvements. The G-4 first flew in 1983 and has been ordered in large numbers for the Yugoslav Air Force. The G-4 features a low wing monoplane design with slightly tapered wings. The aircraft is 12.25m long and 4.3m high, with a wingspan of 9.88m.[4] It weighs 3,250 kg when empty and can carry 1,882 kg of fuel. The aircraft is fitted with a short nose cone, rounded fuselage, conventional empennage, semicircular air intakes, vertical tailfins, rudder, ailerons, horizontal stabilisers and fuel tanks at the square tips. The G-4 its performance is considerably improved by the introduction of a more powerful version of the Rolls-Royce Viper 632-46 turbojet.[4] The cockpit is fitted with two ejection seats with the rear seat slightly elevated to render all round clear visibility.

Operational history

The G-4 saw some combat during the Yugoslav Wars. In total, three G-4s were shot down, all pilots ejecting safely.

During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, seven G-4s of the Leteće zvezde aerobatics team were destroyed at Golubovci Air Base.

Variants

G-4 Super Galeb.
G-4 Super Galeb.
G-4
Advanced jet trainer and light ground-attack aircraft.
G-4Š
Unarmed jet trainer.
G-4T
Target puller.
G-4M
Upgraded avionics and hardpoints, missile rail added to wingtips. Avionics include a Zrak ENP-MG4 HUD incorporating a Rudi Cajavec ENS-MG4 electronic sight, a gyro platform, multi function displays, and an optional chaff/flare dispensers. The inner hardpoints are rated at 500 kg, while the outer ones are rated at 350 kg, giving a maximum disposable load of 1,800 kg. Normal takeoff weight is 4,971 kg as a trainer, with a maximum takeoff weight of 6,400 kg in the attacker configuration, the maximum speed in "clean" configuration is 865 km/h at 10,000 m and 900 km/h at 4,000 m, with a ferry range of 2,900 km with drop tanks; range of 1,800 km with standard fuel, reduced to 1,200 km with cannon pack, four BL755 cluster bombs and two AAMs, maximum rate of climb at sea level of 1,800 m per minute, and a service ceiling of 12,500 m.[5]
G-4MD
Further development of G-4M upgrade including: LCD flight screens, HOTAS, HUD, integrated mission computers, distance measuring equipment, GPS-based navigation systems, identification friend or foe, navcomm units, mission records, and VHF omni-range and instrument landing systems. Integration of guided weapons, countermeasures and targeting systems is also scheduled as part of the upgrade.[6]

Operators

 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Myanmar
 Montenegro
 Serbia

 Croatia

 Yugoslavia

Notable accidents

Specifications (G-4M)

G-4 Super Galeb animation

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94[10]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics
Standard communication and navigation equipment, plus (fire control and weapons management) Ferranti ISIS D-282 gyro sight, and (defensive sensors and systems) Iskra SD-1 RWR; there is also provision for a reconnaissance pod with cameras and an IR line scanner.

Aircraft on display

Serbia

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ Super Galeb G-4
  2. ↑ Super Galeb G-4
  3. ↑ https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/galeb.htm
  4. 1 2 3 SOKO Super Galeb G-4 (Super Seagull) Light Atack/Advanced Trainer
  5. ↑ "Serbia." airserbia.com. Retrieved: 24 July 2009.
  6. ↑ Salinger, Igor. "Serbian air force targets fleet modernisation." flightglobal.com, 11 August 2008. Retrieved: 24 July 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 "World Air Forces 2013" (PDF). Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Na prodaju posljednja četiri borbena aviona". Vijesti. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "VS plane crashes, kills pilot". B92. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  10. ↑ Lambert 1993, pp. 587–589.
  11. ↑ Muzej Ratnog Vazduhoplovstva at aviationmuseum.eu

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.
  • Lambert, Mark, ed. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.

External links

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