FFVS 22 The FFVS J 22 was a single - engine fighter aircraft developed for the Swedish Air Force during World War II . Development . At the onset of World War II , the Swedish Air Force ( " Flygvapnet " ) was equipped with largely obsolete Gloster Gladiator ( J 8 ) biplane fighters . To augment this , Sweden ordered 120 Seversky P - 35 ( J 9 ) and 144 P - 66 Vanguard ( J 10 ) aircraft from the United States . However , on 18 June 1940 , United States declared an embargo against exporting weapons to any nation other than Great Britain . As the result , " Flygvapnet " suddenly faced a shortage of modern fighters . Several other foreign alternatives were considered : the Finnish VL Myrsky and Soviet Polikarpov I - 16 were unsatisfactory , and while the Mitsubishi A6M Zero was available , delivery from Japan was impractical . A batch of Fiat CR . 42 Falco ( J 11 ) biplanes and Reggiane Re . 2000 " Falco " ( J 20 ) were eventually purchased but this was clearly an interim solution . With " Flygvapnet " facing a serious shortage of aircraft and Saab running at full capacity building its single - engine B 17 and twin - engined B 18 bombers , a new firm and factory were established specifically for the new fighter — Kungliga Flygförvaltningens Flygverkstad i Stockholm ( " Royal Air Administration Aircraft Factory in Stockholm , " FFVS ) under Bo Lundberg . The aircraft , designated J 22 , was a monoplane with a plywood - covered steel airframe . Wing and fuselage layout were conventional , with the narrow - track main landing gear retracting rearward entirely within the fuselage , somewhat similar to the 1935 Focke - Wulf Fw 159 parasol - wing monoplane fighter design . Power came from a Swedish copy of the Pratt & Whitney R - 1830 Twin Wasp , manufactured without a license at the time , though license fees were paid later ( symbolic 1 $ ) . The J 22 first flew on 20 September 1942 from Bromma airport , where the factory was located . It entered service in October 1943 , at the F9 air wing at Gothenburg , with the last of the 198 aircraft delivered in April 1946 . Sub - assemblies for the J 22 were made by over 500 different contractors . Operational history . The J 22 was well liked by its pilots and possessed good manoeuvrability and responsive controls . Forward visibility on the ground left something to be desired and if the tailwheel was left unlocked and able to swivel during take - off there was the potential to ground - loop . In mock dogfights with P - 51 Mustang s ( called J 26 in Swedish service ) it was able to " hold its own " up to 5 , 000 metres ( 16 , 000 ft ) although , above 6 , 000 m ( 19 , 000 ft ) , without a good high altitude supercharger , it became sluggish . Because of its simple systems the J 22 was very easy to maintain and service . With 575 km / h ( 360 mph ) from a 795 kW ( 1 , 065 hp ) engine , the press called the diminutive fighter " World ' s fastest in relation to the engine power " ( while not absolutely true , it was in the same class as the early marks of Supermarine Spitfire and Zero ) . The J 22 crews promptly modified this to " World ' s fastest in relation to the track width " ( for which the Spitfire might also have competed ) , because of the very narrow wheel track . The aircraft was retired in 1952 . Survivors . Three examples of the J 22 are preserved in Swedish aircraft museums . The aircraft in the heading photograph is in the markings of F3 , code ' L ' and is displayed in the Flygvapenmuseum at Malmen near Linkoping .