MILAVIA > Aviation News Last updated: 20 July 2007
MILAVIA Military Aviation News - MILAVIA Military Aviation News
26 Jun 2007

Last Sorties FMV Sk-37E Viggens

Sweden's Forsvarets Materielverk (FMV - Defense Materiel Administration) Flight Test Centre at Linköping flew its last two Saab Viggens for the last time on June 26, 2007.

The last of the Viggens are Sk-35E electronic warfare variants which have been used as jammers in support of the Gripen radar development programme.

Viggen 37809's final jamming sortie lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes, reaching a total of 2,228.9 flying hours since its flirst flight on November 8, 1973. The aircraft landed back at the SAAB airfield at Linköping to be handed over to Saab, as its certificate of airworthiness with the Swedish Armed Forces has almost expired. The manufacturer will continue to operate the aircraft until the Saab 70th anniversary airshow at Linköping on September 1, 2007, when it will fly its final display before retirement.

The other FMV Viggen, 37813, flew its final 1 hour lasting sortie on the same day, but landed at Halmstad, where it will be prepared for shipment by sea to the USA. The aircraft will be delivered to the Collings Foundation and preserved at its museum in Stow, Massachusetts. It was first flown on August 1, 1975, and had accumulated 2,287.6 flying hours.
Source: AFM Aug 2007