Degerlund EF-79

Degerlund EF-79
An early production EF-79 in its hangar in 1944
Role	Fighter
National origin	Acrea
Manufacturer	Degerlund AB
First flight	1943 (glider)
Introduction	1944
Retired	1952
Status	Retired
Primary user	Royal Acrean Air Force
Produced	1944-1946

The Degerlund EF-79 is an Acrean Great War-era jet fighter. The EF-79 was designed to meet a requirement for a long-range, high-speed fighter drafted by the RAAF in 1942. Although the most radical design of those presented, Degerlund's prototype was the only one to come close to meeting requirements, and was subsequently given a green light for further development in 1943. The unorthodox flying wing design was selected to minimise drag and increase the space available for fuel tanks. Yaw control was achieved by the use of spoilers. In the hands of Acrean pilots, the EF-79 received a mixed response. Compared to the only other fighter jet in Acrean service at the time, the EF-62, the EF-79 was much faster and had a greater service ceiling. Its flying wing design gave it an incredibly small turning radius and extremely low stall speed. Stall recovery was likewise very simple and easy to achieve. However, the aircraft also had issues with yaw precision and in reports, Acrean pilots lambasted its very poor roll performance. These two issues made it difficult to achieve gun solutions during maneuvering, meaning that although the EF-79 was capable of turning inside much slower piston-engined fighters actually landing hits proved difficult. This was compounded by the armament of two 30mm cannons, which had slower velocities than the 20mm cannons which equipped most Acrean fighters of the day. Due to these issues and its speed, the EF-79 was primarily employed as an interceptor. It performed well in the role when it debuted on the Shalumite front in 1944, but the EF-62 performed equally well with fewer compromises for its performance. Accordingly, the EF-79 was produced in relatively limited numbers.

Specifications (EF-79A-1)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 7.47 m (24.5 ft)
• Wingspan: 16.76 m (55.0 ft)
• Height: 2.81 m (9 ft 3 in)
• Wing Area: 52.8 sq m (568 sq ft)
• Empty Weight: 4,600 kg (10,100 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 x Mattson-Dyrssen EJ-006 axial-flow turbojets

Performance

• Maximum Speed: 960 km/h (600 mph, 520 kn)
• Service Ceiling: 13,000 m

Armament

• Guns: 2 x 30mm cannons

See Also

Aircraft of Comparable Role, Configuration, and Era