The Saab 90 Scandia was a civil passenger
aeroplane
An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectr ...
, manufactured by the Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (
SAAB
Saab or SAAB may refer to:
Brands and enterprises
* Saab Group, a Swedish aerospace and defence company, formerly known as SAAB, and later as Saab AB
** Datasaab, a former computer company, started as spin off from Saab AB
* Saab Automobile, a fo ...
), in
Linköping
Linköping () is a city in southern Sweden, with around 105,000 inhabitants as of 2021. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Church ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
. In 1944, as it was becoming clear that hostilities in Europe (the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
) would soon be at an end, SAAB realised that the company had to diversify from purely military endeavours if it were to survive. The board therefore decided to put into action a plan to manufacture a twin-engined, short- to medium-haul passenger aircraft, as a successor for the
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner
manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, which had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s to 1940s and World War II.
It was developed as a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper version ...
. (This was the same commercially driven stimulus that led to
automobile
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...
production, with the
Ursaab
Ursaab (lit. ''Proto-Saab''), also known as 92001 and X9248, was the first of four prototype cars made by Saab AB, which at that time was solely an aeroplane manufacturer, leading to production of the first Saab car, the Saab 92 in 1949. The car i ...
and subsequent
Saab 92
The Saab 92 was the first production car from Saab Automobile, Saab. The design was very aerodynamic for its time, with a drag coefficient (''cx'' or ''cw'') of 0.30. The entire body was stamped out of one piece of sheet metal and then cut to ac ...
passenger vehicles.)
The design of the 90 Scandia was quite similar to the DC-3. The most distinct visible difference was that the 90 had tricycle landing gear while the DC-3 had a tailwheel. The Scandia also had a quite different vertical stabilizer shape, and numerous more subtle differences. The 90 had to compete with the many surplus DC-3s available on the market at the same time, making sales difficult.
Design and development
![SaabScandia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/SaabScandia.jpg)
Development started in February 1944. Takeoff weight was specified at about 11,600 kg, with a range of about 1,000 km. The prototype Saab 90 (Scandia) first flew in November 1946. It was capable of seating 24–32 passengers, with low-speed capability. It was to be fitted with
Pratt & Whitney R-2000
The Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp is an American radial engine developed in 1942 to power military aircraft. It is one of the Pratt & Whitney Wasp series of Radial engines.
Design and development
The R-2000 was an enlarged version of the ...
engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy.
Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...
s. It had a single nosewheel and fully retractable landing gear.
ABA Swedish Airlines, a predecessor of
SAS, ordered 11 examples. The
Type certificate
A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). It confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production, is in compliance with applica ...
was issued in June 1950. Delivery started in October 1950 but, after testing, specification had changed to the
Pratt & Whitney R-2180-E Twin Wasp E. Two
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
ian airlines (
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A (São Paulo Airways), better known as VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. It had main bases at São Paulo's two m ...
and
Aerovias do Brasil) also ordered a total of six aircraft. The prototype was subsequently converted to a luxury private executive aircraft for the Brazilian industrialist Olavo Fontoura.
Design
The Scandia project was initiated in 1944 by a supposed need (after World War II) for an aircraft carrying 25–30 passengers for a distance of up to 1000 km.
Main design objectives were: safety; two engines; long life; economic operation.
The wing was shaped, using NACA profiles, to provide good stalling characteristics. Low wing design was chosen since it provided:
* Less structural weight
* Better safety in an emergency landing
* Possibility for one continuous flap
The wing was built in three pieces. The centre section with engine mounts, and left and right sections which were bolted to the centre section, immediately outboard of the engine nacelles.
The fuselage diameter was chosen to allow for four seats per row. This configuration gave a capacity of 32 passengers. A configuration with wider and more comfortable seats, three seats per row, carrying a total of 24 passengers was also offered. The prototype (90.001) was equipped with Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp R2000 engines (changed to P&W Twin Wasp R2180 on the production version).
The entire aircraft was built of metal except for the rudders which were fabric-covered metal frames.
Test flights
The prototype (SE-BCA) made its first flight on November 16, 1946. Claes Smith was the pilot. The first flight lasted for 20 minutes. The plane had exceptionally good slow-flying characteristics, with full control down to 110–115 km/h. The stall was slow and preceded by vibrations. The plane also turned out to be easily maneuvered with one engine shut down, which at the time was typically not the case with twin-engined aircraft. Unfortunately the rudder harmony was not satisfactory, with high control forces in some situations. The engine installation also needed redesign.
The prototype flew a total of 154 hours before the winter of 1947/48 when it was parked in the hangar for modifications. The engines were elevated for increased clearance between propeller blades and ground. The cabin, which previously contained only test equipment, was furnished. On February 7, 1948, the prototype took off again and began the second testing phase. The second phase consisted of mainly performance tests. After 700 hours of test flying it was decided to introduce the following changes to the production planes:
*More powerful engines
*Four-blade Hamilton-Standard propellers
*Spring tabs on rudder and elevators for reduced control forces
Operational history
![SAAB Scandia VASP at Sao Paolo Congonhas 1965](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/SAAB_Scandia_VASP_at_Sao_Paolo_Congonhas_1965.jpg)
The first production Scandias were delivered in 1950. SAS received its eight aircraft between October 1950 and October 1954. SAS initially operated its Scandias on intra-Scandinavian flights. Scheduled services by Scandias were operated also to European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels and London Airport (Heathrow) between 1951 and 1955. Until Scandias were withdrawn in 1957 they also served in a modest first class configuration on the new route from Scandinavia to Moscow via Riga.
VASP operated its fleet of new and ex-SAS Scandias on intra-Brazilian scheduled flights between October 1950 and late 1966.
The
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force ( sv, Svenska flygvapnet or just ) is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History
The Swedish Air Force was created on 1 July, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the es ...
put heavy and insistent demands upon the SAAB factory, for the
Saab 29
The Saab 29 ''Tunnan'', colloquially ''Flygande tunnan'' or just ''Tunnan'' ( en, "The flying barrel", "The barrel"),. is a Sweden, Swedish fighter aircraft, fighter that was designed and manufactured by Saab Group, Saab in the late 1940s. It w ...
fighter aircraft, which spelled the end of the Scandia project in Sweden, with residual production being undertaken by
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names. It was founded in 1912 in Berlin, Germany, and became famous for its fighter aircraft in World War I. In 1919 ...
, in the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
.
Altogether, only 18 examples were manufactured. The entire SAS fleet was eventually purchased by
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A (São Paulo Airways), better known as VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. It had main bases at São Paulo's two m ...
, in 1957.
A larger version with pressurised cabin called 90B was planned, but never built.
The last flight with a 90 Scandia was on July 22, 1969. The sole surviving Scandia is the 16th built, ex VASP ''PP-SQR'', which is preserved in deteriorating condition by a museum at
Bebedouro
Bebedouro is a municipality in the state of São Paulo (state), São Paulo in Brazil. The population is 77,555 (2020 est.) in an area of . The elevation is . The distance from São Paulo city is about 390 km.
The foundation of the city took pla ...
in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
Variants
;Saab 90A
: Twin-engined short-range airliner. Main production version.
;Saab 90B
: Proposed version. Not built.
Operators
;
*
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A (São Paulo Airways), better known as VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. It had main bases at São Paulo's two m ...
; , and
*
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines, more commonly known and styled as SAS, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. ''SAS'' is an abbreviation of the company's full name, Scandinavian Airlines System or legally Scandinavian Airlines System Denmark ...
(SAS)
;
*
Aktiebolaget Aerotransport
AB Aerotransport (ABA) was a Swedish government-owned airline which operated during the first half of the 20th century and was merged into what would become the SAS Group. ABA was established on 27 March 1924 under the name Aktiebolaget Aerotra ...
(ABA)
Accidents and incidents
Three VASP Scandias were lost in fatal crashes with a further two written off in non-fatal accidents.
["ASN Aviation Safety Database results:SAAB Scandia"](_blank)
''Aviation Safety Network''. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
*December 30, 1958: a
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A (São Paulo Airways), better known as VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. It had main bases at São Paulo's two m ...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQE flying from
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to
São Paulo-Congonhas during climb after takeoff had a failure on engine no. 1. The pilot initiated procedures to return to the airport but during the second turn the aircraft stalled and crashed into
Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay ( pt, Baía de Guanabara, ) is an oceanic bay located in Southeast Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lie the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Duque de Caxias, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and ...
. Of the 34 passengers and crew aboard, 20 died.
*September 23, 1959: a
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A (São Paulo Airways), better known as VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. It had main bases at São Paulo's two m ...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQV en route from
São Paulo-Congonhas to
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont during climb after takeoff did not gain enough height and crashed minutes out of São Paulo, killing all 20 passengers and crew.
*November 26, 1962: a
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A (São Paulo Airways), better known as VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. It had main bases at São Paulo's two m ...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SRA en route from
São Paulo-Congonhas to
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont collided in the air over the Municipality of Paraibuna, State of São Paulo with a private
Cessna 310
The Cessna 310 is an American four-to-six-seat, low-wing, twin-engine monoplane produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. It was the first twin-engine aircraft that Cessna put into production after World War II.
Development
The 310 first fle ...
, registration PT-BRQ, en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to
São Paulo-Campo de Marte. Both were flying on the same
airway
The respiratory tract is the subdivision of the respiratory system involved with the process of respiration in mammals. The respiratory tract is lined with respiratory epithelium as respiratory mucosa.
Air is breathed in through the nose to th ...
AB-6 in opposite directions and failed to make visual contact. Both aircraft crashed, killing all 23 passengers and crew of the Saab and all four occupants of the Cessna.
Surviving aircraft
![Saab 90А-2 Scandia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Saab_90%D0%90-2_Scandia.jpg)
As of 2007, only one 90 Scandia, PP-SQR, remains. It stands outdoors in at the
Museu de Armas, Veículos e Máquinas Eduardo André Matarazzo in Bebedouro, Brazil.
PP-SQR
Specifications
See also
References
*
External links
MyAviation.net photo gallery
{{Saab aircraft
1940s Swedish airliners
Swedish civil aircraft
Saab aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1946
Low-wing aircraft
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft