What a Saab 91 Safir costs, how far it flies, and what it costs to keep
PlaneFox tracks 1 Saab 91 Safir aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
How far can a Saab 91 Safir fly?
A Saab 91 Safir flies about 520 nm, roughly 963 km, which is about 4 h 6 min in still air at typical cruise.
What does a Saab 91 Safir cost to own?
A Saab 91 Safir costs about EUR 1,904 a month to run, or about EUR 201 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
More questions about the Saab 91 Safir
How much does a Saab 91 Safir cost?
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About the Saab 91 Safir
Aircraft overview
The Saab 91 Safir is a Swedish light aircraft built by Saab as a military trainer and civil touring aircraft. It first flew in 1945, with production running from 1946 to 1966. Assembly was carried out both in Sweden and, for part of the program, by De Schelde in the Netherlands. The Safir is a low wing, fixed gear, single engine design with side by side seating, valued for its combination of military training heritage, simple systems and pleasant handling. It served with several air arms, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria and Ethiopia, which gives the type a broader historical footprint than many postwar European trainers.
Performance & specifications
Performance depends on variant and engine, but typical cruise figures are in the region of 120 knots. Published range is commonly around 500 nautical miles, again varying with model, fuel fit and operating conditions. Service ceiling is typically cited at about 16,000 feet. Early Saab 91A aircraft used the de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, while later and more common variants used Lycoming powerplants, including the 190 hp Lycoming O-435 in the Saab 91B and Saab 91C, and the 180 hp Lycoming O-360 in the Saab 91D. Useful load varies by variant, equipment and certification history, so individual aircraft records are more important than generic figures.
Cabin & avionics
The Saab 91A and Saab 91B are generally three seat aircraft, while the Saab 91C and Saab 91D introduced a four seat cabin layout. The cockpit is compact by modern touring standards, with good visibility through the large canopy and a conventional trainer style instrument arrangement. Buyers should not expect factory glass avionics such as Garmin Perspective or G1000. Most aircraft on the market have legacy analog panels, often updated over time with modern VHF radios, transponders, GPS navigators, ADS-B equipment and engine monitoring as required by local rules.
Buying & value
Used market interest is strongest among buyers seeking a distinctive vintage trainer rather than a high speed cross country aircraft. Key inspection points include corrosion control, especially in older airframes, engine installation details, canopy condition, landing gear condition, fuel system status and completeness of military or civil logbooks. Variant matters: the Saab 91D is often attractive for its Lycoming O-360 supportability, while earlier models may appeal more to collectors. Parts availability, approved data, maintenance experience and import history can have a larger effect on value than cosmetics alone.