Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


General information
Type	Trainer
National origin	Sweden
Manufacturer	Saab
Designer	A J Andersson
Primary user	Swedish Air Force
Number built	323
History
Manufactured	1946–1966
First flight	20 November 1945

The Saab 91 Safir (Swedish for sapphire) is a three (91A, B, B-2) or four (91C, D) seater, single engine trainer aircraft. The Safir was built by Saab AB in Linköping, Sweden (203 aircraft) and by De Schelde in Dordrecht, Netherlands (120 aircraft). Design and development Development of the Safir began in 1944 as part of a plan to compensate for reductions in orders for military aircraft when the Second World War finally ended. Three major civil programmes were planned, the Type 90 Scandia airliner, the Type 91 Safir light aircraft and the Saab 92 motor car. The Safir was designed by Anders J. Andersson, who had previously worked for Bücker, where he had designed the all-wood Bücker Bü 181 "Bestmann". The Safir thus shared many conceptual design features with the Bestmann. It was primarily of metal construction, although it did have fabric-covered control surfaces. Development was slowed by the need to concentrate on more urgent military work, and by industrial action in suppliers. The Safir's first flight took place on 20 November 1945.

Operational history

Production of the Saab 91A began in 1946, but sales were slow owing to the large numbers of cheap ex-military trainers for sale after the end of the Second World War. Major users of the 91A were the Swedish and Ethiopian Air Forces. In 1951, Sweden ordered 74 91B trainers to replace its remaining Bestmanns, but Saab was busy building J29 Tunnan fighters, so production of the Saab 91B was moved to the Dutch company De Schelde at their Dordrecht factory. De Schelde continued building the Safir until 1955, completing a total of 120 Saab 91B and 91Cs..

Saab AB Svenska Aeroplan

Saab AB Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget
Saab 91 Safir is a Swedish trainer

General Info

Crew: 1
Capacity: 2 passengers
Length: 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 10.6 m (34 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 580–610 kg
Gross weight: 955 kg
Max takeoff weight: 1,075 kg
Fuel capacity: 110 L (29 US gal; 24 imp gal) with 25 L (6.6 US gal; 5.5 imp gal) reserve
Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major X 4-cylinder, 108 kW (145 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 265 km/h
Cruise speed: 235 km/h

Stall speed: 85 km/h
Range: 960 km
Service ceiling: 4,600 m

Related development

Special Links Saab AB Svenska Aeroplan

Links to Youtube & Others

In June 2006, Pakistan completed the purchase of six Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft to be equipped with the Saab-Ericsson ERIEYE Airborne Early Warning system.

Saab 2000 is a Swedish twin-engine turboprop

Some smaller airlines, including Eastern Airways in the UK, have subsequently acquired 2000s at low cost.

Youtube Link

On 3 April 2008, the first Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C was rolled out and presented to Pakistan Air Force officials during a ceremony in Sweden.

Saab AB Svenska Aeroplan
Saab Safir 91 Trainer
Manufactured 1946–1966