Photo Credit: Google Earth/ Karin Snowstar

The Trollhattan-Vänersborg Airport (THN) , located right behind the Saab Factory in Trollhättan, Sweden began when the land was purchased for the use of an airplane factory and airfield in 1937. This was the same year that Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolaget or SAAB, began making aircraft for the Swedish Military.

During the Second World War (1939-1944), the facility was in full swing for the Swedish Air Force and produced the B3, B5, B17, J21 and J21R.

Following the War, the airfield continued but instead of military purposes, it operated commercial civilian flights, flight school, air freight and private flights.

In 1973, the airport was modernized and became a regional airport serving Trollhättan, Uddevalla and Vänersborg municipalities with approximately 10,000 passengers that year.

Ten Years later the airport expanded the runway, new terminal and tower, and the annual passengers rose to nearly 22,000.

In 1985, the Trollhattan-Vänersborg Airport began flying the second historical SAAB civilian commercial passenger turboprop, the SAAB 340. Three years after this launch the SAAB 340 began serving Finland as well.

In 1990, a new route to Arlanda airport in Stockholm began, bringing the passengers that year to nearly 150,000 per year.

In 1992, Swede Air took over operation of the flights at the airport, then a year later SAS closed Swede Air and a new service provided by Golden Air continued service while limiting the existing routes to save on costs, which is when the SAAB 2000 aircraft was introduced.

2000 came and the annual passeners were reduced to 85,000 through Golden Air’s service.

Today, the annual passengers served at the airport is somewhere around 65,000 and continues to operate the SAAB 340 and SAAB 2000 aircrafts.

For more information on the Trollhattan-Vänersborg Airport please visit http://www.fyrstadsflyget.se/

Photo Credit: SAAB Group

In Kolmården, Sweden this past 24th through 26th of September, a conference took place for all of the pilots of the SAAB 2000 aircraft.

This SAAB 2000 Pilots conference appears to be similiar to the Saab Conventions and Festivals for automobile owners and enthusiasts.

Here is an excerpt from the conference:

Saab is pleased to report that 13 Saab 2000 operators will be represented at the conference along with delegates from key suppliers, aircraft owners, aircraft lessors and Saab; making a total of over 110 delegates.

I wonder if they discussed building a new commercial airliner due to continued supply being unable to meet the demand mentioned earlier for these highly reliable commercial aircraft from SAAB?

The Saab 2000 aircraft, originally introduced in 1988 is a great jet, but it’s not brand new. Something to consider when these high-quality aircraft from SAAB, are in high demand.

SAAB Aircraft celebrated their 70th anniversary at their home of Linköping, Sweden at the end of August and I have just received their press release and photographs that describe this celebration.

It is important to note that while all SAAB aircraft were present during the celebration, there was one exception which was the SAAB Scandia 90 commercial airliner. The last remaining SAAB Scandia 90 resides at a museum in Bebedouro, Brazil, South America. SAAB tried to buy this for their 50th anniversary in 1987, their 60th in 1997 as well as their recent 70th anniversary this year, but the owners continue to ask for a figure that is deemed unreasonably high time and time again.

Aside from the airplanes, the Saab Performance Team as well as legendary rally champion, Erik “On The Roof” Carlsson were also present amongst other notables for this very special event as you will see in the photographs above.

Here is a press release that describes a segment of this 70th anniversary celebration.

Guests celebrated Saab’s 70th anniversary
8/31/2007

A flyby of Saab’s aircraft started the customer day that is part of Saab’s 70th anniversary. Around 700 customers, partners, suppliers, analysts and media came to join the celebrations.

The VIP day took place at the Saab compound in Linköping, Sweden, on Friday August 31. Åke Svensson, President and CEO of Saab wished everyone a warm welcome.

“It is fantastic to have you here today. I am so proud of this company” he said by way of introduction. A short film about the history of Saab was shown and Åke Svensson spoke about Saab’s development from 1937 to the present day.

”Focus has changed. Previously the emphasis was on one large Swedish customer, today we have broadened our horizons and the internationalisation has increased.”

Saab in the future

The emphasis of the seminar that followed was on the future and what Saab might be working on at the time of the 100th anniversary in 2037. The seminar discussed what the future might hold within civil security and air (unmanned aircraft), sea (naval command and control systems) and land areas (multistatic radar).

Lennart Sindahl, business unit manager for Saab Aerosystems, and Michael Franzén, project manager for UAV operations in the business unit, spoke about the possibilities of unmanned aircraft. In their vision of the future we will be flying with unmanned passenger aircraft several years before Saab celebrates 100 years.

Lars Tossman, business unit manager for Saab Underwater Systems, and Richard Colling, point of contact Sea, spoke about the importance of flexible, autonomous underwater vehicles in the future.

Air show with all still flying Saab planes

The day was rounded off with a flying display featuring nearly all Saab’s aircraft that are still flying: Saab B17, Saab 32 Lansen, Saab 91 Safir, SK60, Saab 35 Draken, Saab 37 Viggen, Saab 39 Gripen and Saab 2000.

Saab Aircraft Leasing has had a memorable 2006 on the Saab 340 and 2000 aircraft according to a recent report at Sky Control. It is good to hear that Saab Aircraft Leasing had a good year like their former counterpart, Saab Automobile has had.

It is interesting to note that in this article, they state that Saab Aircraft’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Saab Aircraft leasing is technically in Northern Virginia.

For more information. please visit the source at Skycontrol

Saab has had not only a heritage of building jets for the military, they also have had experience in commercial air travel as well.

The Saab Scandia 90 was Saab’s first commercial aircraft, with its first flight in 1946 and its last flight in 1969. The only remaining Saab Scandia 90 is located at a museum in Brazil.

For more information on the Saab Scandia 90 visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Scandia

Saab also made two more current jet liners, both the Saab 340 that first flew in 1983 and is presently used in a number of international carriers. For more information on the Saab 340 visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_340

In addition, Saab also made the 2000 which first flew in 1992, and is also still in use today, although more limited than it’s predecessor. For more information on the 2000 visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_2000

I would like to see more Saab Aircraft in wide use today in commercial air travel, especially since the recent trend is for more small planes than the jumbo planes such as the new Airbus A380.