Photo Credit: SAAB

I recently received an e-mail from the folks in Stow, Massachusetts that have been eagerly awaiting the SAAB SK-37 VIGGEN Jet since this past fall.

Apparently, there have been some major issues with customs not allowing the aicraft even in parts, to come into the United States.

I hope that they can get that resolved by the summer perhaps, in the meantime, here is their note:

Hello Ryan,
The SK-37 has not arrived here in the country yet. We have had some major issues with customs allowing us to bring the static aircraft into the
country. At this time we do not have a date for when we will be allowed to bring the aircraft into the US. The aircraft is sitting disassembled in
Sweden waiting for clearance to put it onto a boat to come to the US. Collings Foundation

The Saab-Scania promotional film made in 1979 titled “22 Minutes & 22 Seconds” has now been converted and is available to watch here online. This film was able to be converted thanks to the Rocky Mountain Saab Club’s (RMSC) extremely kind donation recently. The RMSC provided everything that Saab History needed in order to meet the financial goals in concluding the first phase of the “Saab Film Project“. This additional to the Saab Video archive will be the three hundred and fifteenth addition to the archive since it was launched over a year ago.

The film you are about to see is certainly a unique mix featururing footage of Scania, SAAB Aerospace as well as SAAB Automobile. The variety of footage of these industries that were all a part of Saab-Scania AB at the time include manufacturing, testing, development, design, promotional clips, out takes and a number of other bits that I think you will find particularly unique and rather interesting.

Please enjoy the film and post your comments below.

Saab-Scania - 22 Minutes & 22 Seconds, 1979

Photo Credit: SAAB

The super rare SK-37 SAAB Viggen that I mentioned this past September, has arrived in the United States at the Collins Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts.

This one of 18 produced two-seater SAAB Viggen, was the last jet used by the Swedish Air Force in 2007 when they were all decomissioned.

The SAAB SK-37 Viggen Jet will apparently be ready sometime in the spring of 2009

Please read the press release below:

Collings Foundation receives a unique fighter jet from the Swedish Air Force

The Collings Foundation is excited to announce a new one-of-a kind addition to its aircraft collection. After extensive footwork by Else-Marie Lindgren, member of the Swedish Parliament, the donation of a Swedish Air Force fi ghter aircraft popularly known as the Viggen was fi nalized in the spring of 2007. (Viggen translates to Thunderbolt in English) During the Cold War, Sweden pursued a policy of neutrality between East and West. A major component of this strategy was a series of combat aircraft built by SAAB. One of the most impressive of this series was the SAAB 37 “Viggen,” a multi role combat aircraft that was the backbone of Swedish air power from the 1970’s to the end of the century. Our new Viggen will be the fi rst on United States soil ever!

Read more »

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

As many of us have heard during the Saturday night banquet at the 2008 Saab Owners Convention, there will be an original SAAB SK-37 Viggen (two-seater) arriving in the United States this fall.

The aircraft will be upon arrival, located in Stow, Massachusetts, the same state where SAAB Motors Inc, had their first port of origin at the Collings Foundation.

The SAAB SK-37 Viggen, based off of the attack version of the JA-37 Viggen, was a two-seater version of the Viggen with some other modifications that were made to accomodate the new seating arrangement, including a periscope for the co-pilot.

Viggen means The Thunderbolt in Swedish, derived from the Norse god Thor’s warhammer Mjölner.

Read more »

Photo Credit: Saab of Hunterdon

Saab of Hunterdon, a site sponsor of Saab History, has recently taken the “Born From Jets” ad slogan to a whole new meaning by showcasing a SAAB JA37 VIGGEN fighter jet for service in their “hangar”.

This goes to show you that Saab of Hunterdon’s service department has more than enough training to work on their jets on the ground, they are now reaching to new heights by servicing those jets in the air.

If you find yourself an owner of a SAAB jet whether on the ground or in the air, and need servicing, please give them a call, I am sure they will be more than happy to take care of your SAAB service needs.

By the way, will your service department be in need of a SAAB JA37 VIGGEN Haynes workshop manual anytime soon to repair that $45 million dollar SAAB?

For more information on Saab Service at Saab of Hunterdon, please visit their website directly. http://www.hunterdonsaab.com/

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.

Photo Credit: Saab History

On Saturday, June 9th, en-route to Läckö Slott (Castle) in Lidköping, Sweden after the ANA Trollhättan, I headed North in a 2007 Saab 9-3 SportCombi in Silver that I rented from AVIS at Landvetter Airport in Göteborg, Sweden. On route 44 between Trollhättan and Lidköping, Sweden you will pass through a town called Grästorp where alongside the road there is SAAB JA37 Viggen mounted on the ground at least a good 25 feet in the air. At this information booth I managed to uncover the following information below about how this section of highway amongst many others in Sweden doubled as aircraft runways for takeoffs and landings.

The waretime bases

The waretime bases between the two lakes Vänern and Vättern played an important role during the Cold War. One way to protect the aircraft was dispersion and regular roads were used for taking off and landing. In this region there was a great number of war bases. The precise location and infrastructure was highly restricted.

Viggen was constructed to be able to take off and land from short runways. A strong engine (about 80,000 hp) together with delta wing and a canard wing made it possible for the aircraft to take off from a short distance. To be able to stop quickly the aircraft was equipped with a highly effective thrust reversing system.

In the early eighties road number 44 was rebuilt to contain four short runways (17 x 800 meters). Along the road a large number of turn-around-sites for reaming and refueling were built. These short runways are still used today for training, landing and taking off with Gripen and Hercules as preparation for international operations under adverse conditions.

Erik Norberg of Sweden who brought us some incredible information on his SAAB Viggen flight simulator jet some weeks ago, has recently released a promo of his “Splinter” Camoflaged VIGGEN that will be available starting December 15th, 2006.

For more information on the Viggen-X project for use in the X-plane simulator software program, please visit http://www.viggenxfiles.se/

The name Viggen means The Thunderbolt, derived from the Norse god Thor’s warhammer Mjölner.

The Saab 9-3 Viggen was first put into production in 1999, most notable for its lightening blue paint, and production ran until 2003.

Again, the Viggen has to be without question the best example of a Saab Automobile that was 100% “born from jets”.

“The Viggen was created for performance seeking Saab enthusiasts and remains very desirable among Saab enthusiasts.”

For more information about the SAAB JA 37 Viggen jet that the automobile is inspired by, please visit this link here

The name Viggen means The Thunderbolt, derived from the Norse god Thor’s warhammer Mjölner.

The SAAB JA 37 Viggen was had it’s first maiden run in 1967, with production starting in 1970 and ending in 1990.

Since we’re on the topic of great SAAB aircraft, the Viggen was one that had such a great following, an automobile was created from it. In a way, the Viggen idea parallels that of the history of Saab in that the Viggen automobile was “born from jets”. I have provided some quotes, photos and videos for your enjoyment.

“The name ‘Viggen’ has a mythological background: it is the clap of Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer.”

For more information about the SAAB JA 37 Viggen, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Viggen

Erik Norberg, from Sweden, the designer of the Viggen-X model for the X-plane flight simulator I have written about earlier, has gratiously provided some background of his lifetime of contributions to the Saab brand.

Mr Norberg is a former chief systems engineer of the JA37 Fighter Interceptor and actually flew the two seater viggen once. Mr. Norberg has about 25 hours in a real viggen simulator and as far as he knows, his flight characteristics are good and accurate.

Here is a quote about how he put together the Viggen-X simulator model.

“We use source material orginiating from government or SAAB as well as sharp eyes and and cameras.”

Here are some additional pieces of information from Mr. Norberg.

I’m in my late 30’s, I practiced at the production line of SAAB 340 Aircraft in -88 and -89,
at the avionics test unit.

I did my examimation work from royal institute of technology at SAAB. I
constructed a rudder force and position meassuring system for the JAS39
Gripen Aircraft.

I Worked with the RADAR systems for all Viggen versions then, at
Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.

I was the chief systems engineer of the Viggen between -96 and -00,
responsible for mid-lif update.

I have done production test flights with SAAB 340, and flew the Viggen
once (SK37). I have about 25 hours in a JA37 simulator and also
projected an upgrade for it.

I have had four SAAB automobiles.

I love SAAB’s and currently my SAAB is a corporate car equiped with
infotainment system and an integrated phone. I used to own the other cars.

My father had a metallic green SAAB 900 -94 until hist last breath.

I probably will own a SAAB to my last breath too… ;-)

Best

/E

For more information on their project visit http://www.viggenxfiles.se/

For photos and videos of the Viggen-X project on this site, please visit http://www.saabhistory.com/2006/11/21/saab-viggen-x-plane-project/

For more info on the X-Plane project, visit http://www.x-plane.com/ or
http://www.x-plane.org/

Here are some recent photos Erik Norberg has gratiously provided saabhistory of his Saab Automobile.

Thank you Mr. Norberg for sharing your wonderful background with the Saab brand.

Erik Norberg, Sweden and Gregory Sainz of France have a project known as “Viggen X-Files”. This project is the development of a fully scaled accurate 3-dimensional model of a SAAB JA 37 VIGGEN fighter jet for use in the FAA Certified software program X-plane.

Their dedicated project is a long time coming that includes materials and resources from some notable authorities on the subject. It appears that as of now, Saab Enthusiasts can choose to virtually race a number of Saab automobile models in Need For Speed 4 as well as SAAB Airplane and Jet models in X-plane 8.

- Original Viggen flight manual
- Original painting drawings (Splinter version)
- Original geometry drawings
- SAAB JA-37 Viggen Performance Assessment, John McIver B.Eng.(Aero), Temporal Images

Then a lot of information is provided by people at:

- FMV - Defense Material Administration on a non-official basis.
- SAAB Aerospace on a non-official basis.
- Various research and test establishments.
- Swedish Air Force Museum, Linköping

For more information on their project visit http://www.viggenxfiles.se/

For more info on the X-Plane project, visit http://www.x-plane.com/ or
http://www.x-plane.org/

I have provided a photo of their latest Viggen design, complete with the “Splinter” camoflage as well as two recent promotional videos. I like the first one with the “Top Gun” music, enjoy them!