Swedish Air Force SK 60 Farewell Displays
The Swedish Air Force has announced that in June of this year, SK 60 trainer aircraft will be phased out. To mark the retirement the jet’s acclaimed solo display will perform a few displays this season before the type is retired.
The Swedish Air Force SK 60 Solo Display has won several awards for its spectacular displays over the years, the most recent award being the King Hussain Memorial Sword for Best Overall Flying Demonstration at last year’s Royal International Air Tattoo where Cpt. Nils "Princess" Schylström performed a beautiful display in challenging conditions.
The Air Force said “The Skolflygplan 60 (SK 60) has trained generations of pilots and has been used for over 60 years in the Swedish Air Force. In June this year, SK 60 will be phased out, the Luftstridsskolan will draw attention to various activities during the spring and summer.
The SK 60 is still used in the training of student pilots at the Aviation School and the last batch will graduate in June this year. The school plane flew for the first time officially in Sweden on June 29, 1963, and thus celebrated 60 years in the Air Force last year.
To draw attention to the school aircraft's long-term service in the Air Force, activities are organized for the public and the media. The Luftstridsskolan publishes the spring's national and Nordic display program with the SK 60 on our website in February, the first flight displays start in May.”
SK 60 on their way to RIAT 2023
A press conference for national and international media is organized in Linköping on Wednesday 10 April. In addition to a flight display, there will be the opportunity for interviews with, among others, Niclas Magnusson, head of the Air Force School, as well as pilots at the Flight School.
It was also announced that on Tuesday 18th June 2024, a decommissioning ceremony with an air display will be held with the Luftstridsskolan (Swedish Air Force training school) at the Air Force Museum in Linköping. To watch the ceremony, visitors will need tickets to the museum, but the air display itself will be free. The jet will leave the Swedish Air Force service on the 30th of June marking the end of the SK 60 Solo Display.
The SK 60 is being replaced by the turboprop Grob G120TP, locally designated as the SK 40, although this will likely be supplemented by a jet-powered trainer like the Saab T-7 at a later date.
The SK 60 is Sweden’s designation for the Saab 105, a light attack aircraft and jet trainer of which Sweden is now the last remaining military operator.
Adopted in 1962, the first SK 60 aircraft was flown in July 1963 and a total of 150 SK 60 aircraft were delivered to the Swedish Air Force between 1966 and 1968. It entered into service in 1967, mainly for training purposes, replacing the De Havilland Vampire. 40 SK 60 aircraft, designated Saab 105, were also delivered to the Austrian Air Force.
In addition to the basic Sk.60A trainer, the Sk.60B and C attack versions were also produced as modifications, the Sk.60C featuring an elongated nose to allow for the installation of a camera.
All SK 60s currently flying in the Swedish Air Force have been upgraded with new cockpit instruments and engines. After their retirement, some of the SK 60s will be handed over to the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight, where they will join its existing SK 60, 60140/SE-DXG, a non-upgraded example which already flies with them.
