| Saab 91 Safir | |
|---|---|
 Saab 91C of the Swedish Air Force | |
| 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 |
TheSaab 91 Safir (Swedish forsapphire) is a three (91A, B, B-2) or four (91C, D) seater, singleenginetraineraircraft. The Safir was built bySaab AB in Linköping, Sweden (203 aircraft) and byDe Schelde inDordrecht,Netherlands (120 aircraft).
Development of the Safir began in 1944 as part of a plan to compensate for reductions in orders for military aircraft, in anticipation of the end of theSecond World War. Three major civil programmes were planned, theType 90 Scandia airliner, the Type 91 Safir light aircraft and theSaab 92 motor car.[1] The Safir was designed by Anders J. Andersson, who had previously worked forBücker, where he had designed the all-woodBücker 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.[2] Development was slowed by the need to concentrate on more urgent military work, and byindustrial action among suppliers.[3] The Safir's first flight took place on 20 November 1945.[4]
While the prototype was first powered by a 130 hp (97 kW) fourcylinderde Havilland Gipsy Major IC piston engine, the Saab 91A initial production model used a 145 hp (108 kW) Gipsy Major 10.[4] The Gipsy-engine Safir was considered underpowered by military customers, and as a result, the Gipsy was replaced by a six-cylinderLycoming O-435A rated at 190 hp (140 kW), with the re-engined type becoming the Saab 91B,[3] flying on 18 January 1949.[5] The Saab 91C, first flying in September 1953, retained the O-435 engine, but has a revised four-seat cabin.[6][7] The 91D replaced the O-435 with a lighter four-cylinderLycoming O-360-A1A engine rated at 180 hp (130 kW).[8][6]
As well as its primary role as a trainer/touring aircraft, the Safir was used as an aerodynamic testbed. The first prototype was used as a platform for low speed testing of the swept wing forSaab 29 jet fighter, and was later further modified to test the wing for theSaab 32 Lansen fighter.[8] In addition, one ex-Swedish aircraft was sold to Japan, going through a variety of modifications to test high-lift devices for theShin Meiwa PS-1 flying boat.[9]
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 companyDe Schelde at theirDordrecht factory. De Schelde continued building the Safir until 1955, completing a total of 120 Saab 91B and 91Cs.[3]
Saab restarted production of the Safir at itsLinköping factory in 1954,[6] building 25 Saab 91B-2s for Norway, 30 Saab 91Cs, all for military customers, and 99 Saab 91Ds.[10] Production continued until 1966, when the last Safir, a Saab 91C for Ethiopia, was completed. Total production was 323 aircraft including the prototype.[8]
The Safir was used by the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Austrian, Tunisian, and Ethiopianair forces as a trainer aircraft, and a single aircraft was used by theJapan Defense Agency as anSTOL test platform.[11] The type remained in Norwegian and Finnish service until the late 1980s, and in Austria until 1992.[8] While it was replaced as a trainer by theScottish Aviation Bulldog in Sweden in 1971, it remained in use as a liaison aircraft, still being in service in 1994.[12]
Major civilian users wereAir France,Lufthansa and theDutchRijksluchtvaartschool (RLS) on theGroningen Airport Eelde, nearGroningen.
During development of theSaab 29, the initial Saab 91 prototype was modified with a scaled-down version of the Saab 29's swept wings; this aircraft was designatedSaab 201 Experimental Aircraft. This same airframe was later fitted with wings designed for theSaab 32 Lansen; this was designatedSaab 202.
A single Saab 91 Safir was modified as the Saab X1G for research in Japan.
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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59,[15] Safir in the Air[16]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
