During its 70 years, Saab has produced over 4,000 military and commercial aircraft of 15 types, culminating in the Gripen. It is destined to remain in service with the SwAF (and probably many other air forces) at least until 2037, when Saab is due to celebrate its centenary. However, the JAS 39C seen here, may by then have been superseded bya larger and more developed variant based on the studies about to begin with the technology demonstrator.

Spectacular Saabs. From left to right, the aircraft are JAS39C Gripen, 39227/'27'; J 35F Draken, 35610/'56-10' of the Veteran Flying Unit (VFU), at F7 Wing in Satenas; Sk60A, 60102/'102' from the F17M Wing, at Malmlatt AFB; J 32D Lansen 32606/'06-04' of the VFU; and Sk 37E Viggen, 37809/TC-09'. Conspicuous by its absence was the VFU's J29F Tunnan, 29570, that had suffered an engine failure shortly before the anniversary airshow. A replacement engine has since been fitted, but at the time of writing (September 6, 2007) it was still grounded due to a slight fuel leak. It is interesting to note the double-delta/canard aerodynamic similarity between the Draken, Viggen and Gripen; configurations determined by the need for uncompromised performance at low and supersonic speeds.

Among the external changes to the Gripen demonstrator are two additional stores pylons and its repositioned main undercarriage. The latter has been moved out to the wing in order to increase the internal fuel capacity by up to 40%. Internally, there will be major improvements in avionics, including an AESA (Airborne Electronically Scanned Array) radar, structural refinements and the F414G engine will provide up to 25% more thrust. This wind tunnel model was tested at RUAG Aerospace, Emmen, in Switzerland.

Golden Air is the largest operator in Europe using only Saab aircraft. Based in Trollhattan, Sweden, it operates eleven 340s and five 2000s on domestic routes and for charter.

Estonian Air, the national carrier of Estonia and part of the SAS Group, has signed a contract with Saab Aircraft Leasing for the lease of two Saab 340s. The first was delivered in March 2007, while the second (Saab 340A SE-KUU/ES-ASN), seen here on static display, will be accepted this month (September). Both of the aircraft will operate scheduled flights from the airline's Tallinn Airport base and will complement Estonian Air's six-strong Boeing 737-500 fleet.

In the air at the same time as the 'Saab formation' but not in the group - as it could not match their 240kts display speed, was an example of the first Saab design to enter service, the B17A. The aircraft, 17239, was one of 322 built. It served with 2 Sqn, F7 Wing at Satenas and is now owned by the Air Force Museum in Malmslatt.

Seen here making its characteristically thunderous take-off under the 28,100lb (125 kN) thrust of its RM8B turbofan is Saab Sk 37E Viggen 37809/'FC'. Sweden's FMV (Forsvarets Materielverk - Defence Materiel Administration) flew its last two Viggens, Sk 37E 37809/'FC' and 37813/'FC' for the final time on June 26 this year. They had both provided support to the Gripen flight test programme, carrying jamming, and chaff and flare pods to test the Gripen's Ericsson PS-05 radar. After its final sortie, aircraft 37813 landed at Halstad where it is being prepared for shipment to the Collings Foundation, where it will be preserved at its museum in Stow, near Boston, Massachusetts. Sk 37E 37809 is now based at Satenas with F7 Wing, where it is hoped to continue operating it within the Swedish Air Force Veteran Flying Unit along side the other sole remaining airworthy Viggen JA 37DI 37398. The Viggen era lasted 40 years, during which a total of 329 aircraft, in five variants were produced.

Proving that Saab built its aircraft to last, the J32 Lansen - which entered service in 1956 - may again see operational use, if plans to modify one or two for high-altitude air sampling materialise. Originally built as a JAS 32B all-weather fighter/interceptor, 32606 was later converted to a JAS 32D for target towing. It belongs to the VFU which also has a JAS 32E (32543) electronic counter measures variant in airworthy condition and expects to have two more flying in the near future.

Saab Aerotech Special Flight Operations aircraft can carry a variety of jammers for their electronic warfare training tasks. This Mitsubishi MU-2M SE-GMA was displayed in a typical configuration with two jamming pods under the wings. The sleeve target, laid on the ground behind the aircraft is representative of the SFO’s role of towing targets for missile and gunnery systems.