Saab 2000

Saab 2000

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_2000

Saab 2000

Darwin Airline Saab 2000
Role	Passenger aircraft
Manufacturer	Saab
First flight	March 26, 1992
Introduced	1994
Status	Out of production
Primary users	Carpatair (14) Golden Air (5) Eastern Airways (6) FlyLal (6) Polet Airlines (6)
Produced	1994-1999
Number built	64 (54 still in service)

The Saab 2000 is one of the fastest turboprop airplanes in existence; it is able to cruise at a speed of over 665 km/h (360 kt). It is a stretched version of the Saab 340.

Design and Development

Saab decided to build the 2000 in December 1988 due to perceived demand for a high speed turboprop which could approach the speeds of jet aircraft while retaining the efficiency provided by turboprop engines. The Saab 2000 first flew on 26 March 1992 and entered into scheduled airline service in 1994, a few months after its certification by the Joint Aviation Authorities in March and the Federal Aviation Administration in April.

The Saab 2000 had a 15% greater wingspan than the Saab 340, and being over 24 ft. 9 in. (7.55m) longer could fit up to 50 passengers. The 2000 was the first commercial aircraft to use Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop engines (then built by Allison), driving slow turning six-bladed Dowty Rotol propellers. One engine was mounted on each wing, as in the 340, with the engines placed farther from the fuselage than those of the 340.

Production and operational service

Saab 2000 of CityJet at Dublin operating a scheduled service to London City in August 1998

Sales of the Saab 2000 were fairly limited. The major initial customer was Crossair, a regional airline which had Swissair as a 56% shareholder. Crossair took delivery of 34 aircraft and was still operating the type in 2005. Due to limited demand, Saab ceased production of the Saab 2000 in 1999.

By the year 2000, 54 Saab 2000 aircraft remained in service. The primary reason for the low sales was the success of the newly introduced low-cost regional jets such as the Bombardier CRJ and Embraer ERJ 145 family which provided better performance and passenger comfort for the same initial price. Some smaller airlines, including Eastern Airways in the UK, have subsequently acquired 2000s at low cost and operated them on regional routes which experience lower passenger numbers.

Variants

Saab 2000 : 50-seat regional airliner.
Saab 2000FI : Flight inspection aircraft for the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. Two built.

Specifications

Powerplants

Two 3096 kW (4152 shp) Rolls-Royce Allison AE-2100A turboprops driving six blade constant speed Dowty propellers

Weights

Operating empty 13,800 kg (30,420 lb)
Max takeoff 22,999 kg (50,704 lb)

Performance

Max cruising speed 682 km/h (424 mph, 368 knots) at 25,000 ft
Long range cruising speed 594 km/h (369 mph, 321 kn)
Initial rate of climb 2250 ft/min (11.4 m/s)
Service ceiling 31,000 ft
High speed range with 50 passengers and reserves 2185 km (1180 NM)
Range at long range cruising speed 2868 km (1549 NM).

Dimensions

Wing span 24.76 m (81 ft 3 in)
Length 27.28 m (89 ft 6 in)
Height 7.73 m (25 ft 4 in)
Wing area 55.7 m² (600 sq ft)

Capacity

Flightcrew of three to four
Normal passenger accommodation for 50 at three abreast and 81 cm (32 in) pitch.
Max seating for 58 at three abreast and 76 cm (30 in) pitch, with repositioned galley and wardrobe

Flight Deck

Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics suite with integrated avionics processor (IAP)
Engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS)
Traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS)
The flight control systems include dual Inertial Reference System (IRS) and a digital air data system (DADS)

Operators

Civil operators

Polet Airlines Saab 2000

As of April 2008, here is a fleet list from Saab Aircraft Leasing:

Three a/c have been broken up (#001-#003), two have been written off (#047 & #053)

Military operators

Pakistan

Pakistani Air Force - 5 Saab 2000 AEW&C

In June 2006, Pakistan finalized the purchase of six Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft to be equipped with the Saab-Ericsson ERIEYE Airborne Early Warning system. Revised in May 2007 due to renegotiation with Government of Pakistan, only five airplanes will be delivered. Finally on April 03, 2008 the Pakistani Air Force acquired the Saab 2000 AEW&C with a hand-over ceremony in Sweden.

Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmad was also present on the occasion. According to PAF spokesman, inclusion of Saab 2000 is vital for meeting Pakistan’s security requirements and a big milestone in modernizing PAF fleet.

External links

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Published in July 2009.

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