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Saab J-91 Safir

The Saab 91 Safir is a single-engine three- or four-seat trainer aircraft produced by the Swedish manufacturer Saab AB, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget. Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) designation was SK 50 Sk´ (Skola/School). The Saab 91 Safir shares many conceptual features with the Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann as it was designed by Anders J. Andersson who designed the Bücker Bestmann also.

The Swedish Air Force showed interest in the aircraft, which was planned to be used as an initial flight training aircraft. According to the requirements of the Swedish Air Force, a prototype was built, equipped with a six-cylinder Avco Lycoming O-435-A with a capacity of 190 hp. from. and made its maiden flight on January 18, 1949. The aircraft was adopted by the Swedish Air Force under the designation Sk 50 (from "Skolplan" - "training aircraft") and could also carry machine guns, practical bombs or NAR. Safir was built by Saab until 1950, with a total of 48 production aircraft and one prototype. The civilian analogue of the Sk 50 was produced under the designation Saab-91B. The Dutch "De Schelde" subcontracted 106 aircraft, including 76 for Sweden (Sk 50B, delivered 1952-1953).

The O-435-A engine was also installed on the Saab-91B-2 modification, which was equipped with a constant-speed propeller, and on the Saab-91C version. The latter was first flown in September 1953 and was intended to carry four people, and its fuel tanks were shifted to the wing. The Swedish Air Force received 14 Saab-91Cs, which were designated Sk 50C.

The last production model was the Saab-91D, retaining the four-seater configuration of the Saab-91C, but with a number of improvements, including the installation of a new, lighter and slightly more powerful four-cylinder O-360-A1A engine with 180 hp. with., as well as disc brakes and other improved equipment, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the machine.

Safir aircraft were used as training air forces for Austria (24 Saab-91D aircraft), Ethiopia, Finland (35 Saab-91D), Norway (25 Saab-91B-2) and Tunisia. Among the civilian operators of aircraft of this type are the Danish State Flight School (Rijksluchtvaartschool), as well as Air France and Lufthansa. As for the Safir prototype, after the swept wing was installed on it, it was used as a flight laboratory in the Saab 29 Tunnan (Saab 201) and Saab 32 Lansen (Saab 202) programs.

Data for (Version) Saab 91B Safir Variants Saab 91A, Saab 91B, Saab 91C, Saab 91D ICAO Code SB91 Developed from Bücker Bü-181 Bestmann First Flight 1945 Production Status out of production Total Production ca. 320 Crew 2 Passengers 1 / 2 Propulsion 1 Piston Engine Engine Model Lycoming O-360-A1A Engine Power 134 kW 180 hp Speed 267 km/h 144 kts 166 mph Service Ceiling 6.200 m 20.341 ft Range 1.074 km 580 NM667 mi. Empty Weight 710 kg 1.565 lbs max. Takeoff Weight 1.205 kg 2.657 lbs Wing Span 10,60 m 34 ft 9 in Wing Area 13,6 m² 146 ft² Length 7,95 m 26 ft 1 in Height 2,20 m 7 ft 3 in