FFA P-16

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The FFA P-16 was a Swiss prototype ground attack jet fighter designed in the 1950s to replace the piston-engined types then in service with the Swiss Air Force. It was Switzerland's second attempt to develop a domestically-designed and manufactured jet fighter, but the project was terminated before it could be introduced into service.

Design and development

The P-16 was designed to be especially well-suited to the close-support role, and short-field performance was also emphasized. The resulting aircraft was a single-seat, single-engine design with intakes on the fuselage sides and a low wing. The horizontal stabilizer was mounted half-way up the fin. To ensure good performance from unprepared fields, heavy undercarriage and dual wheels and tires were fitted. The wing was the most remarkable part of the design due to its high-lift devices; slats along the entire leading edge, large Fowler-type flaps along the trailing edge, and ailerons which also operated as flaps. These devices allowed the aircraft to take off and land within 1,000&nbsp;ft (330 m).

Testing and evaluation

Two prototypes were ordered in 1952, the first one flying on 25 April 1955. Although this aircraft was destroyed in a crash only four months later (12.5 hours flight time), a development contract for four pre-production aircraft was awarded. On 15 August 1956, the...
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