Midterm Report
The Saab 340A is a Swedish twin turboprop passenger plane which was first produced in 1983. Although they are no longer in production, they are still actively used. It was designed in a partnership between Saab and Fairchild with each company being responsible for certain aspects. Fairchild’s portin included the wings, engine housing, and empennage, while Saab handles the fin, fuselage, and final assembly. They agreed upon a General Electric CT7-5A2 engine and a Dowty Rotol 4 Bladed Composite propeller. This engine is just the commercial version of the General Electric T700 which was already being used to power military helicopters. Once everything was completed, the first prototype was flown in early 1983, four years after the two companies initially agreed to work together. Depending on the configuration, the Saab340A can seat between 30 and 36 passengers, and a cargo version also exists. Specifications of both the plane and engine are provided in Tables 1 and 2 below.
Table 1. Saab 340A Specifications
Maximum Takeoff Weight
28500 lbs.
Maximum Landing Weight
27200 lbs.
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight
25700 lbs.
Avg. Operational Empty Weight
18800 lbs.
Max Payload
6900 lbs.
Max Fuel Capacity (weight)
5690 lbs.
Max Fuel Capacity (volume)
849 gallons
Max Cruise Speed
271 knots
Max Operating Altitude
25000 ft.
Wing Span
70.333 ft.
Wing Area
450 ft2
AR
10.993
Max Range with Full Load
490 nm
Max Range with No Payload
≈1550 nm
Table 2. General Electric CT7-5A2 Specifications
Max Continuous at S/L
Shaft
1660 hp
Thrust
150 lbs.
Normal Takeoff (5 min) at S/L
Shaft
1735 hp
Thrust
164 lbs.
TSFC max
0.476 (lb/hr/shp)
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Saab 340 is its limited range. As seen in Table 1 it can only travel 490 nautical miles, or about 563 miles, when filled with passengers and their baggage. This is a very small distance and is approximately as far as flying from New York to North Carolina.
Table 1. Saab 340A Specifications
Maximum Takeoff Weight
28500 lbs.
Maximum Landing Weight
27200 lbs.
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight
25700 lbs.
Avg. Operational Empty Weight
18800 lbs.
Max Payload
6900 lbs.
Max Fuel Capacity (weight)
5690 lbs.
Max Fuel Capacity (volume)
849 gallons
Max Cruise Speed
271 knots
Max Operating Altitude
25000 ft.
Wing Span
70.333 ft.
Wing Area
450 ft2
AR
10.993
Max Range with Full Load
490 nm
Max Range with No Payload
≈1550 nm
Table 2. General Electric CT7-5A2 Specifications
Max Continuous at S/L
Shaft
1660 hp
Thrust
150 lbs.
Normal Takeoff (5 min) at S/L
Shaft
1735 hp
Thrust
164 lbs.
TSFC max
0.476 (lb/hr/shp)
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Saab 340 is its limited range. As seen in Table 1 it can only travel 490 nautical miles, or about 563 miles, when filled with passengers and their baggage. This is a very small distance and is approximately as far as flying from New York to North Carolina.