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Saab 340

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Template:Infobox Aircraft The Saab 340 is a two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild in a 65:35 ratio. Under the initial plan Saab built the aluminium fuselage and plastic vertical stabilizer, and also performed final assembly in Linköping, Sweden while Fairchild was responsible for the plastic wings, empennage, and wing-mounted nacelles for the two turboprop engines. After Fairchild ceased this work, production of these parts was shifted to Sweden.

History

Originally designated as the SF340, the aircraft first flew on 25 January 1983. After Fairchild exited the aircraft manufacturing business in 1984, Saab continued aircraft production under the designation 340A. An improved version, the 340B, introduced more powerful engines and wider horizontal stabilizers in 1989. The final version, the 340B Plus, was delivered for service in 1994 and incorporated improvements that were being introduced at the same time in the Saab 2000. The production run of Saab 340s typically seated between 30 and 36 passengers, with 34 seats being the most common configuration. The last 2 Saabs built were constructed as older configuration 36-seat aircraft.

One of the improvements introduced in the 340B Plus was the installation of an active noise and vibration control system in the cabin, reducing noise and vibration levels by about 10 dB during cruising flight.[1] Another change from earlier models was the moving of the lavatory compartment from the aft of the passenger cabin to just aft of the flight deck. This increased total available cargo volume as the original location intruded into the cargo bin area. The first ever 340B Plus was delivered new to Hazelton Airlines in Australia in 1995, later operating for Regional Express, and slated to operate for the Japanese Coast Guard.

The military variant is the Saab 340 AEW & C, which is an airborne early warning (AEW) and electronic surveillance aircraft. Production of all 340 models ended in 1999, and Saab ceased all civil aircraft production in 2005.

Variants

Operators

A United Express Saab 340 prepares to accept passengers. Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO), March 30th 2005.

As of October 2005, there were 430 Saab 340's in service with 56 operators in 25 countries.[2] In August 2006 a total of 361 Saab 340 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service around the world with some 49 operators.[3] 9 SAAB340s have been written off in accidents, 6 of them without fatalities.

Civil operators

The major operators of the 351 Saab 340s still in airline service in August 2006 include

Regional Express Airlines has committed to lease 25 Saab 340B Plus aircraft in the largest lease deal for the type, which has a redesigned extended wing to increase flight performance and fuel efficiency. They should enter service over the next three to four years and will replace several currently leased Saab 340B. First Delivery was in May 2007. As of September 2007, 6 have been delivered. These B+ aircraft, many currently still in service with American Eagle (Sept 07), will all be delivered by July 2008 according to the fleet list below. [3]

Saab AEW & C surveillance aircraft, at Linköping, on the occasion of Saab's Diamond Jubilee, in 1997
File:340Akdk.jpg
Australia's Regional Express (REX)
operates a large fleet of
Saabs, 340As, 340Bs and 340B+s,
including the world's first
southern hemisphere-based Saab Fairchild 340
pictured here.

Historical operators

United Express and US Airways Express (USA)

Source: [4]

Military operators

Specifications (340B)

Saab 340B in Colgan Air livery
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 pilots, 1 flight attendant
  • Capacity: 33, 34 or 36
  • Airfoil: NASA MS(1)-0316 / -0312 (root/tip)Cargo Max. C1: 1300 lbs C2*: 800 lbs (*Limited by Mesaba Airlines)
  • Propellers: Dowty Rotol or Hamilton Standard four-blade constant speed (diameter 3.35 m (11 ft))
  • Fuel capacity: 2580 kg (5,690 lb)
  • Max. Gross Weight: 13,630 kg (29,000 lb)
  • Max. Landing Weight: 12,900 kg (28,500 lb)
  • Cabin Length: 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
  • Cabin Width: 2.2 m (7 ft 1 in)
  • Headroom: 1.8m (6 ft 0 in)
  • Aisle Width: 0.4m (16.3 in)
  • Max. Cabin Pressure Differential: 7.1psi Auto/7.5 Max

Performance

References

  1. ^ Halvorsen W. and Emborg U., Interior Noise Control of the Saab 340, SAE Technical Paper 891080, 1989
  2. ^ saabaircraft.com
  3. ^ a b c Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
  4. ^ Saab Aircraft Leasing Corp. list of operators

Related content

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

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