Saab 91 Safir

Saab AB

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	January 1, 1937 (1937-01-01) in Linköping, Sweden
Headquarters	Linköping , Sweden
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Aircraft, automobiles (historically)
Website	www.saab.com

The Saab 91 Safir—named after the gemstone sapphire—is a single-engine trainer aircraft accommodating either three (91A, B, B-2) or four occupants (91C, D). Manufactured by Saab AB in Linköping, Sweden (203 units), and under license by De Schelde in Dordrecht, Netherlands (120 units), the Safir served primarily as a pilot training platform.

Design and development

Initiated in 1944, the Safir's development aimed to offset diminishing military aircraft orders as the conclusion of the Second World War approached. Saab focused on three key civilian projects: the Type 90 Scandia airliner, the Type 91 Safir light aircraft, and the Saab 92 automobile. The aircraft’s design was led by Anders J. Andersson, whose previous experience at Bücker included creating the all-wood Bücker Bü 181 "Bestmann." Consequently, the Safir incorporated several design elements reminiscent of the Bestmann. Its structure was predominantly metal with fabric-covered control surfaces. Progress was delayed due to prioritizing urgent military assignments and supplier industrial disputes. The prototype’s maiden flight occurred on 20 November 1945.

The initial prototype was equipped with a 130 hp (97 kW) four-cylinder de Havilland Gipsy Major IC piston engine. Early production Saab 91A models upgraded to a 145 hp (108 kW) Gipsy Major 10 engine. However, military operators found this powerplant insufficient, prompting a switch to a six-cylinder Lycoming O-435A delivering 190 hp (140 kW); this variant was designated Saab 91B and first flew on 18 January 1949. The Saab 91C, which took flight in September 1953, maintained the O-435 engine but featured an expanded four-seat cabin layout. The subsequent 91D model replaced the O-435 with a lighter four-cylinder Lycoming O-360-A1A engine rated at 180 hp (130 kW).

Beyond its role as a trainer and touring aircraft, the Safir functioned as an aerodynamic test platform. Its prototype was utilized for low-speed evaluations of the swept wing design destined for the Saab 29 jet fighter and later adapted to test wings for the Saab 32 Lansen fighter. Additionally, one former Swedish Safir was sold to Japan and underwent multiple modifications to experiment with high-lift devices for the Shin Meiwa PS-1 flying boat.

Operational history

File:Saab 91 Safir Pirkkalassa.jpg

Finnish Saab 91D Safir

Manufacture of the Saab 91A commenced in 1946; however, initial sales were sluggish due to the abundance of inexpensive surplus military trainers available following World War II. The Swedish and Ethiopian Air Forces emerged as primary operators of the 91A. In 1951, Sweden placed an order for 74 Saab 91B trainers to replace its remaining Bestmann aircraft. Since Saab was occupied with producing J29 Tunnan fighters at that time, the manufacturing of the Saab 91B was transferred to the Dutch firm De Schelde at their facility in Dordrecht. De Schelde continued production of the Safir up to 1955, delivering a combined total of 120 Saab 91B and 91C units.

Production resumed at Saab’s Linköping plant in 1954, where they built 25 Saab 91B-2s destined for Norway, alongside 30 Saab 91Cs—all allocated to military clients—and an additional 99 Saab 91Ds. Manufacturing persisted until 1966, concluding with the last Safir, a Saab 91C completed for Ethiopia. Overall output reached 323 aircraft, including the prototype.

The Safir served as a trainer for several air forces, including those of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Tunisia, and Ethiopia. Additionally, one unit was employed by the Japan Defense Agency as a platform for STOL testing. The aircraft remained operational within Norwegian and Finnish forces until the late 1980s and stayed active in Austria until 1992. Although Sweden replaced it with the Scottish Aviation Bulldog as a trainer in 1971, the Safir continued performing liaison duties and was still in service there as late as 1994.

Key civilian operators included Air France, Lufthansa, and the Dutch Rijksluchtvaartschool (RLS) based at Groningen Airport Eelde, near Groningen.

During development of the Saab 29, the original Saab 91 prototype was modified by fitting scaled-down swept wings inspired by the Saab 29 design; this variant was named Saab 201 Experimental Aircraft. Subsequently, that same airframe received wings designed for the Saab 32 Lansen, resulting in the Saab 202 designation.

In Japan, one Saab 91 Safir was altered into the Saab X1G for research purposes.

Variants

File:Saab Safir 91B.jpg

Saab Safir 91B trainer taking off from Hahnweide airfield

• 91A – The initial production model equipped with a 145 hp (108 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major 10 engine and featuring three seats. A total of 48 units were produced. The Swedish Air Force identified this version as Tp 91.
• 91B – A three-seat variant powered by a 190 hp (140 kW) Lycoming O-435 engine. De Schelde manufactured 106 examples. The Swedish Air Force designated this model as Sk 50B.
• 91B-D – An enhanced version of the 91B with three aircraft built by De Schelde.
• 91B-2 – A modified version of the 91B tailored for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, primarily distinguished by incorporating a constant speed propeller. Saab produced 25 units for Norway.
• 91C – This four-seat model evolved from the 91B, featuring relocated fuel tanks within the wings and equipped with a constant speed propeller. Eleven were built by De Schelde and an additional thirty by Saab. The Swedish Air Force referred to this variant as Sk 50C.
• 91D – Another four-seat configuration powered by a 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming O-360 engine paired with a constant speed propeller. Saab constructed ninety-nine examples of this model.

Military Users

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• Austrian Air Force - acquired 24 Saab 91D models starting in 1964 and operated them until 1992.

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• Ethiopian Air Force - introduced 16 Saab 91A units in 1947, along with 8 Saab 91Bs and 16 Saab 91Cs. Some remained active into the early 1980s.

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• Finnish Air Force - operated 35 Saab 91Ds and a single Saab 91B, retiring them by the late 1980s.
• Finnish Frontier Guard - previous operator.

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• Technical Research and Development Institute

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• Royal Norwegian Air Force - received 25 Saab 91B-2 aircraft from 1956, plus an additional five used Saab 91Bs formerly belonging to the Swedish Air Force.

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• Swedish Air Force - utilized a total of 20 Saab 91As, 76 Saab 91Bs, and 14 Saab 91Cs.

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• Tunisian Air Force - operated one Saab 91B-D and fourteen Saab 91Ds.

Civilian Users

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• Air France

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• Lufthansa

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• Politeknik Penerbangan Indonesia Curug

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• RLS

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• Paraguayan Aeroclub

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• Kelvin Hughes - operated a single Saab 91-C (registration G-ANOK) for development and testing purposes.

Specifications (91A)

File:Saab 91B Safir.jpg

Saab 91B "Safir"

External links

• Ärna Flygclubb (in Swedish)
• FC Flygkubb
• SAAB 91 D Safir – HB-DBL
• SAAB 91 Safir for MS Flight Simulator Archived 2013-08-05 at the Wayback Machine