Saab History

SAAB 210 Draken Concept January 21st, 1952

Posted on 21. Jan, 2007 by Ryan.

Fifty Five Years ago today, the SAAB 210 Draken Concept Aircraft was introduced on on January 21st, 1952 as indicated on “Cut & Paste Aviation” today

For more information on the SAAB 210, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_210

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SAAB AB sells air defense missile system to Finnish army

Posted on 21. Jan, 2007 by Ryan.

SAAB AB Sells missile defense system to Finnish Army.

For the complete story, visit the following link. http://www.iht.com

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Saab Viggen X-Plane Project

Posted on 21. Nov, 2006 by Ryan.

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!

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SAAB Aircraft footage mix by SAAB Technologies

Posted on 17. Nov, 2006 by Ryan.

I just came across an excellent set of mixed action footage depicted many of the SAAB aircraft that have been in production over the years put together by SAAB Technologies. Enjoy!

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Saab-Scania Group

Posted on 12. Nov, 2006 by Ryan.

As your votes have indicated you enjoy the vintage photography and video footage, so here is a great vintage photo of the Saab-Scania group as well as a video. Enjoy!

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The Saab Scania Story

Posted on 11. Nov, 2006 by Ryan.

There are two wonderful resources to learn more about the Saab Scania Story that I thought you should know about.

The Saab Scania Story – Film Documentary

To watch the video, click on the play button below.

The Saab Scania Story – The Book

To purchase a copy click on the image below or visit our book section directly and go to the area in the year 1987 at this link here.

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The Evolution of the Saab, Saab-Scania & SAAB Logos

Posted on 11. Nov, 2006 by Ryan.

I have decided to finally provide some much needed clarification on evolution of the Saab, Saab-SCANIA, SCANIA & Saab logos since the very beginning to the present day.

Below I have provided each logo, dates along with some brief history on the automobile, aircraft and trunk business for our reference.

There is much more that can be included in this history, and that will require a lot more time than I have, but I hope to keep visiting this page with updates.

Aircraft

In 1937, the SAAB name was registered as SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget)started in Linköping, Sweden and here is their first logo.

In 1965, SAAB registered the name as SAAB Aktiebolaget to indicate it’s diversification of programs. SAAB also created a new logo in which they used until 1969.

In 1969, SAAB AB mergered with Scania-Vabis to become SAAB-SCANIA, with headquarters remaining in Linköping, Sweden

In 1984, SAAB-SCANIA had a new logo made. This logo was used throughout their aircraft including the SAAB-SCANIA 340 and 2000.

In 1990, The Wallenberg’s Investor AB sold half of the stake of Saab Automobile to General Motors (GM).

In 1995, Investor AB made a deal to sell the other half of Saab Automobile in 2000. That same year in 1995, SAAB Aircraft became independant and now called itself SAAB Aerospace who created a new logo until 2000, as did SCANIA Trucks & Busses become independant who also created a new logo.

From 1995 until 2000, the Saab Aerospace logo continued to be used.

In 2000, SAAB Aerospace’s programs became more diversified, so it was appropriate to create a new name and new logo. “SAAB TECHNOLOGIES” This logo continues to be used today.

Trucks

In 1891, Vabis name was founded in Södertälje, Sweden. Vabis first logo below.

Scania was founded in Malmö, Sweden. Here is their first logo.

In 1911, Vabis was merged with Scania Trucks in Southern, Sweden to form Aktiebolaget Scania-Vabis. Scania-Vabis first logo which ran until 1969.

In 1969, Scania-Vabis became SAAB-SCANIA. From 1969 until 1983, SAAB-SCANIA had the following logo.

From 1984 until 1995, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo on their trucks.

In 1995, SAAB-SCANIA split, and became the independant SCANIA AB Trucks & Busses who also created a new logo.

Automobiles

1947, SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) started in Linköping, Sweden and here is their first logo at that time for the URsaab model 92001 prototype.

From 1949 until 1962, SAAB used this logo.

From 1963 until 1969, SAAB used this logo.

From 1969 until 1974, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo.

From 1974 until 1983, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo.

From 1984 until 1995, SAAB-SCANIA used this logo.

In 1990, the Swedish Wallenberg family’s company Investor AB sold half of its stake of SAAB-SCANIA to GM, effectively changing SAAB-SCANIA to Saab Automobile AB for the cars division.

In 1995, Investor AB made a deal to sell the other half of Saab Automobile in 2000. From 1995 until 2000, the SAAB-SCANIA logo continued to be used on the Saab Automobile.

In the later half of 2000, a new Saab Automobile logo was introduced that utilized the same griffin symbol a part of the flag representing the southernmost tip (Scania) of the Skåne region of Sweden, removed the SCANIA name, and kept the same background color and changed the silver trim.

In September of 2002, the new logo was enhanced and this logo continues to be used today.

At the 2008 North American International Auto Show, it was indicated to me by Saab designers,both Bryan Nesbitt as well as Andrew Dyson (at 11:15 in the video) that the new Saabs of the future will be going back to the “SAAB” lettering, beginning with the new Saab 9-4x production model, although this removal of the emblem was not the case on the 9-4x BioPower concept.

I should also note that, even though Andrew Dyson indicated that the letters were only going to be used on the steering wheel and then the trunk of the Saab 9-4x, the production model has excluded this on the hood, leaving the griffen emblem only on the wheels.

If you carefully look at the new Saab 9-4x production model photograph, you can see that the emblem has now been removed from the hood further confirming the direction for the future use of the SAAB lettering.

According to Bryan Nesbitt and what we see on the Saab 9-4x, this logo will now be used from here on out for all 2010 Saab models.

If there are any additions, omissions or corrections needed, please post your comments below.

A special thanks to the Saab Museum online for the information http://www.saabmuseum.com/marque/index.html

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SAS – 60 Year Anniversary

Posted on 11. Nov, 2006 by Ryan.

I received my copy of “CURRENTS”, the fall issue of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce Magazine. On the reverse side of their fall issue of this magazine, Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS), has an advertisement that caught my immediate attention. The SAS advertisement depicts their 60-year anniversary in flight. Remember that SAS was the first company to fly the SAAB Scandia 90 Aircraft the same year that SAS was formed.

I find it very exciting how 2006 has been the “Anniversary Year” for Saab Automobile as well as SAAB Technologies.

If you have ever flown SAS, I highly suggest you do! They even hand you a variety of Swedish newspapers to choose from for the trip! What a great way to continue your learning of the Swedish language! Enjoy the print advertisement from SAS!

For more information on Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS) please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Airlines_System

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