I was very fortunate to be an invited guest today at the Saab 70th birthday bash, held at Saab headquarters at Linköping. Despite the rainy weather, examples of all the airworth Saab aircraft flew, except for the J29 Tunnan, which had a last-minute engine problem and had to stay at Halmstad.
What other aircraft manufacturer could display such a range of their products spanning the period from 1940 (B17, which however was not in the formation shown here) to the present-day Gripen?
I took over 500 photos but unfortunately due to the Forum restrictions can only put up this one.
Anyway, even though it rained almost all day, it was a grand day out and the lunch was excellent, with unlimited free wine!
By: bazv - 2nd September 2007 at 20:26
Of course one of the companies that SAAB grew from was started by Ernst Heinkel in the 20’s as a clandestine arm of his company !!;)
I read his autobio a few years ago…fascinating stuff!! Good job the political machinations in nazi germany were worse than here otherwise we might have been seriously in the 5h1t in WW2,he was definitely not popular with the top brass.;)
By: bazv - 2nd September 2007 at 20:18
Did you mean unlimited free w(h)ine 😉
😀 😀 😀
I always liked the Lansen…just about as elegant as a Hunter !!
At Least SAAB knew where to put the canards on the Gripen !! (unlike another eurojet !!);)
By: Denis - 1st September 2007 at 23:18
with unlimited free wine!
Did you mean unlimited free w(h)ine 😉
By: Papa Lima - 1st September 2007 at 18:10
My pictures on Photobucket (if the link works!)
[http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z155/skribenten/Saab%2070th%20birthday%20aircraft/
Perhaps this should really be in the Military or Airshow Fora? Although the general heading is kind of Historic!
By: Papa Lima - 1st September 2007 at 09:14
Here’s another picture – the Gripen departing trailing smoke and flame! Plenty of noise, too.
By: Papa Lima - 31st August 2007 at 21:38
After appearing in that unique formation, each aircraft did an individual show – the Draken flitted about like an angry bee, while the Viggen (a 2-seater) demonstrated sheer brutal power, but finished up with a reverse-thrust-aided pirouette.
There were several large video cameras in operation, and I suspect there will be a promotional DVD eventually. I will use my contacts to try to find out, and see if it can be made publicly available (for my Forum friends, of course!). We were told that the formation was filmed air-to-air, and I can’t wait to see that!
By: Camlobe - 31st August 2007 at 20:51
Happy Birthday SAAB
As a very satisfied SAAB owner, I cordially wish the firm many happy returns.
I have been fortunate enough to appreciate their aircraft over the years while serving in a blue suit. Do like the Viggin for presence, and the Drakken for its distinctive sound.
Oh, did I mention that my SAAB is the 95 2.3 turbo type? Forgot that part. Sorry.
camlobe
By: RPSmith - 31st August 2007 at 20:23
veeeerrry nice – that’s my kind of formation.
I’ve got a soft spot for SAAB – long may they continue.
How many other aircraft manufacturers are still around with the same name they had when they started (or 1940) – Boeing and Cessna perhaps?
Roger Smith.
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August 31, 2007 at 7:15 pm