Saab 340

The Saab 340, also called the SF340, is a twin-engine turboprop airliner designed to seat 30 to 36 passengers, developed and first built by Saab AB with Fairchild Aircraft of the United States. In 1974 Saab decided on its first major civil aircraft, and production was split 65 to 35: Saab made the all-aluminium fuselage and tail fin and did final assembly at Linköping, while Fairchild made the wings and engine nacelles until it left the business in 1985 after the first 40 aircraft, when Saab took the work over. The prototype first flew on 25 January 1983, and the launch customer Crossair received its first aircraft on 6 June 1984. Later versions included the 340A, the 340B and the 340B Plus with active noise control, and the airborne early warning variant. Production ended in the late 1990s, but around 250 were still in service in 2023.