Saab MFI-15 Safari

Summary

Category	Training aircraft
Origin country	🇸🇪 Sweden
First flight	11 July 1969
Year of introduction	1972
Number produced	462 units

Description

The MFI-15 Safari is a light utility aircraft originally developed in Sweden by Malmö Flygindustri. The aircraft's design was initiated by Björn Andreasson, who had previously designed the BA-7, a popular sport aircraft. Initially named the MFI-9 Junior, it was intended for various roles, including training and agricultural tasks. The design was later acquired and modified by Saab, a Swedish aerospace company, and was renamed the MFI-15 Safari and MFI-17 Supporter for various versions.

The MFI-15 Safari features a shoulder-wing monoplane design, often with a tricycle landing gear, which makes it suitable for operations from short and unprepared airstrips. The aircraft has a side-by-side seating arrangement for two occupants, usually a pilot and a co-pilot or passenger. This layout is particularly useful for training scenarios, allowing easy communication and control sharing.

One of the notable design aspects is its excellent visibility from the cockpit, made possible by large windows that extend down the sides of the fuselage. This is especially useful for observation and surveillance roles. The plane is often fitted with a Lycoming IO-320 piston engine that provides around 160 horsepower, offering decent performance for its size and weight.

The wing design allows for a stable flight, making it easier for novice pilots to handle. In some variants, the aircraft has hardpoints under the wings, allowing it to carry external stores such as fuel tanks, or even light armaments in military configurations.

Operational history

The MFI-15 Safari and its variants have seen a diverse operational history, both in civilian and military roles. In civilian use, it has been employed for flight training, agricultural spraying, and observation tasks among other utility roles. But its versatility also made it appealing for military applications.

Under the name MFI-17 Supporter, the aircraft has been used primarily for training pilots but also for light utility and observation tasks. Some versions have been equipped with hardpoints to carry light armaments for use in patrol and even light-attack roles. The Danish Air Force was one of the early adopters of the MFI-17 for basic flight training.

The aircraft gained some prominence in military service with Pakistan, under the name PAC Mushshak. The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) produced this licensed variant and employed it extensively for training, surveillance, and light attack roles. The PAC Mushshak has also been exported to several other countries, expanding its operational footprint.

Variants

The MFI-15 Safari has spawned several variants for different operational needs:

MFI-9 Junior: The original design by Malmö Flygindustri, primarily aimed at sport flying and basic training.
MFI-15 Safari: The modified version by Saab, fitted with a more robust landing gear, structural reinforcements, and a Lycoming IO-320 engine for better performance.
MFI-17 Supporter: Another Saab variant similar to the Safari but customized for specific military roles, often including hardpoints for external stores like fuel tanks or light armaments.
PAC MFI-17 Mushshak: A licensed production version by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, used extensively by the Pakistan Air Force for training and light utility roles. It has also been exported to several countries.
PAC Super Mushshak: An upgraded variant of the Mushshak, featuring advanced avionics and an improved engine, among other enhancements.

Technical specifications

Version: MFI-395 Super Mushshak
Wing area	11.9 m² (128.1 sqft)
Wingspan	8.9 m (29.0 ft)
Height	2.6 m (8.5 ft)
Length	7.2 m (23.5 ft)
Service ceiling	6706 m (22001 ft)
Empty weight	760 kg (1676 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	1250 kg (2756 lbs)
Climb rate	8.6 m/s (28.2 ft/s)
Powerplant	1 × pistons engine Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 delivering 194 kW