SAAB-91D Safir

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The Safir is a Swedish low-wing three-seat primary training and liaison aircraft. lt is of metal construction except for the control surfaces and the wings which are fabric-covered aft of the main spars. 

The Safir prototype first flew in 1945. lts chief designer A.J. Andersson had also designed the German Bcker B 181 Bestmann, which clearly had had some influence on the Safir. The prototype and the first A model production aircraft were powered by the 145 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major X in-line engine, but later B, C and D models had Lycoming 0-435 and 0-360 horizontally opposed engines. 

A total of 323 Safirs were built between 1946 and 1966. After Saab had launched serial production of the J 29 fighter at the beginning of the fifties, the plant's capacity turned out insufficient for Safirs, the production of which was subcontracted to the Dutch De Scheide company until 1954. 

Safirs were sold to 20 countries and were employed as trainers by the Ethiopian, Austrian, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Tunisian air forces. Others were used by the flying schools of the airlines Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and Sabena. 

The Finnish Air Force acquired 36 Safirs between 1958 and 1963. The last of these, SF36, was a B model machine. Safirs were used for primary training of the Air Force pilot courses until 1982 and they also carried out many liaison and light transport duties. Additionally, two Safirs were equipped for mapping photography. The type proved to be weil suited for its purpose and was economical in use too. 


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Wing span: 10.6 m 
Length: 8.03 m 
Height: 2.2 m 
Wing area: 13.6 m2 
Maximum operating weight: 1205 kg 
Maximum speed at sea level: 265 km/h 
Time to 3000 m: 17.5 min 
Ceiling: 4600 m 
Range: 950 km 
Power plant: one Lycoming 0-360 A1A, 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed engine, power output 180 hp 

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Original by Bertil Nilsson 1998 e-mail: bertil.nilsson@mbox3.swipnet.se
					www.home1.swipnet.se/~w-17835/fltsim.htm

Repainted by Mikko Maliniemi 1999 e-mail: mmniemi@hotmail.com