Saab B17

[McCoy]

Development started '37 as a light recconplane but in '38 that was change as development changed n' one of the main roles of the SAAB B17 came to be as a divebomber n' it was in fact one of the leadin' divebombers at the time. One unusual thing with the B17 was that when the pilot dived in at the target he lovered the gear that was constructed to function as divebrakes. The B17 was equiped with an internal bomb bay that could take a 500 kg payload. Fixed arnament was two M-22 7.92mm MG's in the wings n' one at the rear of the cockpit. The B17 was also equiped with an advanced bombsight that allowed a milder dive for the pilot without loosing the accuracy. The last one was delivered to Flygvapnet (Swedish Airforce) in '44 n' by then had a total of 322 B17 been made by SAAB.

[Whiterook]

I've never seen nor heard of this bird....and I had no idea SAAB made aircraft in WWII. Nice writeup!

[McCoy]

SAAB is a aeroplanemanufactorer n' didn't make cars until after the war.

[Wolster]

Nice pictures, and a nice looking aircraft!

[Whiterook]

Originally Posted by McCoy

SAAB is a aeroplanemanufactorer n' didn't make cars until after the war.

Very interesting...I hadn't realized that. SAAB is not a real popular car about these parts...by that, I mean it's just not bought nor seen that much around here. For a time, you couldn't throw a rock without hitting a Volvo; these days, it's giant SUVs. Go figure. Anyway, thanks for the explaination! Was SAAB a major manufacturer of aircraft? Just engines, or did they have factories that put the whole bird together?

[McCoy]

The complete works mate! They still make birds, comercial airliners n' military in the form of JAS 39 Gripen (Griphon). But that's probably the last one...

[Whiterook]

The last military bird they'll build? Why??

[McCoy]

Economics n' competition that's becoming harder.

[Whiterook]

Wow, that's too bad. It sounds like they had quite a history in building aircraft...but I can see it. Economy is tough everywhere.