The aircraft company's car - why the Saab 18 went digital

For the 2012 model year, Saab Automobile planned nothing less than a trip back in time. Started as an aircraft company, then spun off as an independent company, the aviation DNA was always there. Aeronautical engineers supported development until the end of car production, although this was hardly talked about.

In order to revive history, the aircraft past should become digital. The preparatory work had already been done by the new Saab 9-5, which imitated the artificial horizon of an airplane with a line speedometer. In any other car, this gadget would have looked like a foreign body. In a Saab, however, it was logical - because Saab = airplane.

Let's embark on a journey that will take us from the Tunhem meadows and the Saab aviation pioneers to the digital rebirth of a legendary Swedish aircraft.

The Saab 18 - Made in Trollhättan

The Saab factory in Trollhättan started as an aircraft factory. Manufacturing began in 1938 on the Tunhem Meadows, down by the Göta Älv. The beginning was modest, nothing indicated that one day a global corporation would emerge here. There were a few halls, a small tower and an unpaved runway where the machines sank in the mud in the spring.

The first aircraft were still built under license, also of German origin. But as early as the end of 1938, the development of the Saab 18, the company's first long-distance reconnaissance aircraft and dive bomber, began. In addition to the 17, a light single-engine reconnaissance aircraft, the 18 should be the second self-constructed aircraft.

On June 19, 1942, the first Saab 18 took off from the runway in Trollhättan. War was on in Europe, the runway at work was blocked for fear of a German landing with passenger cars, later blocks of wood. It was only cleared when a private aircraft was approaching or about to take off.

Anti-aircraft positions were positioned in the area, which could be a real problem. Because all new machines were only painted green during their first flights, and were therefore difficult to identify as their own aircraft. Friendly fire, which was not considered by the crews of the machines friendly was felt, should definitely have happened.

In June 1944, the first Saab 18 as B 18 to the F 1 squadron (Link) delivered in Vasteras. With a total of 242 examples in various versions, the twin-engine aircraft became the company's first commercial success.

The Saab 18 as a symbol for vehicle construction

On February 27, 1947, the Saab car brand was born (Link), and at that time the car designers are sub-tenants from the aircraft manufacturers. The era of the Saab 18 ends in 1949, in those years Trollhättan lives with the Saab J21R and Saab 29 (Link) already in the jet age. The factory services jet aircraft, but the Saab 18 and its vital role in the country's defense linger on in people's minds.

Its stylized silhouette becomes a symbol for vehicle construction. The Saab lettering with the twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft can be found wherever Saab cars are on the road. The pride of this machine, which can fly at altitudes of up to 9.800 meters (B18B) and a cruising speed of 595 km/h (T18B) was able to achieve, and was one of the fastest examples of its time, may have been the deciding factor.

While the last Saab 1959 was retired in 18, it lived on with the Saab 96 and 95 and only later disappeared in favor of the Saab logo.

The Saab 18 as a symbol of rebirth

Without the 18, Saab Automobilbau underwent a lively metamorphosis as Saab Scania, Saab Automobile – with and without GM – and finally came back to the airplane. The idea for the digital comeback came about at a time when the company had reached the greatest possible distance from its roots.

Saab 9-5 NG and 9-4X were soberly GM group products. In no other vehicle generation was the influence of the Swedes less. Tragically, the end product was convincing, emotionally speaking, Saab had never been so much in a long time.

Could the international GM developers end up making the better Saab? An exciting and unwanted question that can never be answered.

The 2012 model year should bring back the Saab 18 digitally. The drivers of the pre-series sports suits, some sedans and the Saab 9-4X, an elite, hand-picked number of people, know the result.

The entertainment does not greet with the Saab Griffin, but with the plane and the line speedometer plus HUD was also able to please with the propeller machine.

Saab had come home. Back to the Tunhem Meadows at Göta Älv. To the natural runway on which the first Saab 18 landed and took off again. A tragically sad story that becomes Swedish sagas and myths.

Images (3 images) courtesy of Saab AB