What are your thoughts on the cancelled Saab 1073?
Posted by Realistic-Bid9464@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 45 comments
The Saab 1073 was proposed in the late 1960s as a short to medium range narrow-body airliner with a capacity of 80-87 passengers, intended for the feederline market, prioritizing quicker passenger boarding and turnaround efficiency. The aircraft had a hump and elevated cockpit section to accomodate the swing-nose mechanism which replaced conventional doors.
Would be operated from smaller airports in cities (think London City Airport).
I know I discussed this aircraft before on this subreddit but It has been a while since I talked about it and some of my own opinions on it have changed/shifted a bit.
Carguycr@reddit
Looks like a toy
hjkhhnnnlll@reddit
Woukd be cool to see this thing fly
Late-Mathematician55@reddit
That was my impression. Like it was designed by Disney
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
Part of the reason why I like it, besides the hump and nose shape of course.
m149@reddit
It seems like the proportions are way off. Cockpit area looks massive and the rest of the plane looks like it's at a totally different scale.
Dewey081@reddit
Thunderbird 6. Thunderbirds are Go!
lti4all@reddit
I think it was cancelled
agha0013@reddit
no kidding.... hence that being in the title already.
lti4all@reddit
those are my only thoughts on it
cazzipropri@reddit
A design that only its mother would love.
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
I actually do love the design as it is very 747-like.
Agent_of_talon@reddit
"Honey, I shrunk the jumbo!"
RevoOps@reddit
You sir just have terrible taste.
Agent_of_talon@reddit
Looks quintessentially swedish. 😁
ffffh@reddit
Unsafe design; Engines are mounted directly under the wing and next to the passenger compartment.
iz_no_good@reddit
What do you mean cancelled? My 5yo nephew and all his friends have one exactly like that!
MaddingtonBear@reddit
I can only imagine what crazy switch layout is in that cockpit.
drewid5185@reddit
The front end looks like the plane from tailspin. One of my favorite childhood TV shows
LobsterConsultant@reddit
The Sea Duck?
Maybe you're mis-remembering the shape a little. 😆
drewid5185@reddit
Yeah I was it's been a long time since I've seen it but it still has kind of that shape not as much as I thought but it's what it instantly reminded me of
U2ElectricBoogaloo@reddit
I want to give it a boop!
Fluffy-Proof-5175@reddit
This looks like if a Dassault Mercure, Aviation Traders Carvair and a antanov had a child
laughguy220@reddit
I always thought it looked like a mini 747
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
Same, it was honestly part of the aircraft's appeal to me since I loved the 747's prominent nose.
laughguy220@reddit
I fly out of where Pratt and Whitney have their baby 747. When the hanger doors are open I can't help but stop and stare.
I also used to call it the 747 short bus
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
By 'baby 747' you mean the SP, right? Since the 1073 was never made.
laughguy220@reddit
Yes the SP.
The Saab is the "baby 747" in my mind.
av8geek@reddit
None.
Harry_The-Bastard@reddit
Stefan the Saab from Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
?
noncongruent@reddit
I wonder if it was inspired in part by the Carvair?
xb9j@reddit
Why would a passenger jet want a swing door and a hump cockpit? I know there were other midsize planes that were built like this, but weren’t they all cargo planes?
agha0013@reddit
the Carvair was a larger version of a similar concept, the hump allowed flexibility in every layout. All cargo then it was great for loading large cargo items that could be as long as the cabin.
Mixed cabin allowed for passengers in the back with cars in the front operating as a high end exclusive and rapid ferry service
Or an all passenger cabin with the cockpit out of the way allowing for higher capacity (probably the least popular option though)
in the case of the SAAB they wanted a single airframe to be just as flexible, but this thing was a fair bit smaller and would have been much harder to operate profitably.
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
Theree actually were planes that were conceived as passenger aircraft but still had a hump despite providing no advantage. This is the DH-104 Dove/Devon. Not sure about the swing door.
boarroostersnake@reddit
It’s SO CUTE
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
Agreed. It's like an even smaller 747sp. Except witth wings above the fuselage and 737-100/200 style nacelles.
rcbif@reddit
My thoughts are it's just a pudgy lil guy.
Mad_kat4@reddit
Here I was wondering why a plane had a bookshelf in the nose.
Realistic-Bid9464@reddit (OP)
Gotta keep the passengers busy somehow. This was the 60s and seatback screens wouldn't be a thing for like 40 more years.
E2TheCustodian@reddit
Pixar stole the drawings
OkSatisfaction9850@reddit
Toy B747
kilobitch@reddit
The test pilots couldn’t get used to the ignition switch down between the seats.
I_like_cake_7@reddit
They also got frustrated with having to put in reverse before they could take the key out.
VaughnSC@reddit
The dang thing looks like a Fisher-Price version of the An‑124 in Volga-Dnepr livery.
agha0013@reddit
a lot of complications for little advantage.
Bit on the small side if you wanted to use it like the Carvair with a passenger/car capability for particularly rich and fussy clients.
Overall looks like the design would have been extremely heavy for its payload.