Country of origin:

Sweden

Description:

Commercial airliner

Power Plant:

(SF-340A)

Two 1,250 kw (1,675 shp) General Electric CT7-5A turboprops

Specifications:

History:

Over the years manufacturers have looked at the requirements of commuter airlines with a view to producing new airliners to meet operator needs. Because of the tremendous costs involved in developing, certifying, and producing such a type, a number of companies found it necessary to go into partnership with other manufacturers. In the 1980s a number of new types were developed to meet commuter airline needs, and one of the first to appear was the SF-340, which began as a joint project of the Saab-Scania organisation in Linkoping in Sweden, and Fairchild Industries in the United States. Power plant was the General Electric CT7, which is a commercial development of the T700 unit which is fitted to the Sikorsky S-70 series of helicopters.

Aimed at the 30 to 50-seat turboprop market, the SF-340 met with some success, with sales of more than 90 aircraft announced at the time of its unveiling. Latest up-to-date technology of the time was used in the design, and this included the installation of Dowty Rotol four-blade slow-rotation composite propellers; the use of Kevlar reinforced plastics in primary components such as the ailerons, elevators and rudder; fibreglass reinforced plastic cabin floor; and the use of composites in the wing/fuselage fairings, engine intake ducts, undercarriage doors, etc. The prototype of the series (SE-ESF) was rolled out on 27 October 1982 and flew for the first time on 25 January of the following year, being followed by two further prototypes. Deliveries to customers commenced in April 1984 following certification. Initial production aircraft were known as the SF-340 but eventually became known as the Saab 340.

The SF-340 is a pressurised 34 passenger airliner with four-abreast seating. An executive version was made available, but most sales over the production life of the aircraft were to the commuter market. Production of the type ceased in 1999 after 439 examples had been delivered. When production first commenced Fairchild was responsible for the manufacture of the wings, engine nacelles and empennage; and Saab-Scania produced the fuselage and fin, and carried out final assembly at its facility at Linkoping. However, on 1 November 1985 Fairchild relinquished its partnership agreement and became a sub-contractor up to aircraft No 108, at which time Saab-Scania took over responsibility for the construction of the entire aircraft, new aircraft from that time becoming known as the SF-340A.

Later the SF-340B was developed, this model having more powerful 1,350 kw (1,650 shp) CT7-9B engines which improved the hot and high performance of the aircraft. Other changes included an increase in the span of the tailplane, an increase in max take-off weight from 12,370 kg (27,275 lb) to 13,155 kg (29,000 lb). A further development was the SF-340B-Plus which included some of the features which had been used in the Saab 2000, the first of the Plus variants being delivered in March 1994.

When fitted out as a corporate transport the SF-340 carried 14 persons in a ‘boardroom’ configuration, or 24 in an executive configuration. Fuselage pressurisation was 48 kPa (7 psi) to allow the aircraft to operate at altitudes up to 9,145 m (30,000 ft), and extra-large fuel tanks were fitted as standard to provide long-range for customers who required it. Development of the SF-340 led to the Saab 2000, a lengthened version with more powerful engines which sold in only small numbers. In more recent times used 340s have been purchased for other duties, the Japan Coast Guard obtaining a number of examples, designating them 340SAF-200. They were fitted with search radar, an FLIR, observer windows, rescue equipment, life-raft dropping system etc.

In July 1984 Kendell Airlines of Wagga Wagga, NSW, ordered one SF-340A with an option on another, the first aircraft becoming VH-KDK (c/n 340A-016) when delivered in February 1985. In mid 1987 Kendell received approval to operate its SF-340s from grass runways. Over the years the type has proved very successful on services in Australia and New Zealand with Kendell, Hazelton, Air Link and others. More than 45 examples have been registered in this region.

Following the demise of Ansett Airlines and its subsidiaries Kendell and Hazelton (both of which operated Saab 340s), a new airline, Regional Express (REX), was set up to commence services on some of the routes of the former Kendell and Hazelton, this new operator using SAAB 340s, initially using some of the ex-Kendell and Hazelton aircraft but later selling many and replacing them with newer build Model 340B aircraft. In November 2005 Macair took delivery of a 340B (VH-UYF – c/n 340B-358) for services in Queensland. In New Zealand, Air New Zealand Link / Air Nelson had a fleet of 17 Saab 340As but in 2004 the airline announced it was replacing these aircraft with DHC Dash 8-300s. In late 2006 Regional Express announced it would lease 25 late-build 340B Plus aircraft as part of its fleet expansion programme, to be delivered over a period of three years, replacing some of the airline’s older 340As, and to be used on new routes.

The 340 series remains popular, and in late 2012 Corporate Air / VEE H Aviation of Goulburn, NSW, took delivery of three 340Bs, these aircraft becoming VH-VEO (c/n 366), VH-VEP (c/n 377) and VH-VEM (c/n 364).

By early 2022 Rex Aviation had a fleet of 61 SF-340s, comprising nine aircraft inactive, four Saab 340B plus, four Saab 340B, one Saab 340A and a further 23 Saab 340B (plus) and had 26 Saab 340B in active service, and six Boeing 737-800s.

In 2023 Rex Airlines announced it was partnering with Dovetail  Electric to pioneer converting a Saab 340 to electric propulsion, this being a partnership between Dovetail Electric Aviation and Sydney Aviation Holdings, owner of Sydney Seaplanes, and Dante Aeronautical.  Rex announced it would provide an aircraft to be used as a testbed, and its engineering and technical expertise, maintenance support etc.