Ask most aviation photographers about their favourite aircraft and the answer is almost always the same: jets. Look a little deeper, however, and it is the old jets that truly capture the imagination—the rare survivors that still fly, rather than sit silently in museums. Among these, Swedish-built Saab jets stand in a class of their own. Thanks to the exceptional work of the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight, these iconic aircraft continue to fly, preserving a legacy that is becoming increasingly fragile with every passing season.

In June, following the completion of our Danish project, the Skyvan photoship repositioned to Trollhättan, Sweden, for two extraordinary days dedicated entirely to this precious metal. As always, flying in Sweden came with outstanding support from the Swedish Air Force, who complemented the historic programme with operational assets including the C-130 Hercules, QRA Gripens with flares, and the eagerly anticipated Saab Sk60. We were fortunate to fly with the Sk60 on both days in excellent conditions, complete with smoke—just one week before the type officially left military service.

The historic lineup formed the heart of the project. The Swedish Air Force Historic Flight presented an exceptional collection, including their support Cessna Citation, the newly added Saab B17—a rare, warbird-like aircraft with only one example flying worldwide—and an array of classic jets. One of the most striking formations paired the bare-metal Viggen with a two-ship of Gripens, an exclusive setup made even more dramatic by menacing weather. With fewer than 100 flying hours remaining, this Viggen’s presence carried a strong sense of urgency and privilege.

Other highlights followed in quick succession. The Saab Draken, restricted to high-speed fly-bys due to its demanding flight envelope, rewarded patience with unforgettable delta-wing imagery, including the bare-metal two-seat variant. The Saab Tunnan and Saab Lansen both delivered extended solo join-ups and rare two-ship formations, while day one closed with a deeply nostalgic moment: the Saab Sk60 still wearing the colours of the historic Team 60 aerobatic team—perhaps for the final time in military service.

Day two raised the bar even further. The Saab B17 returned alongside the Citation, generating some of the rarest aerial imagery of the project. The undisputed centrepiece was the two-seat splinter-camouflage Viggen, whose dramatic manoeuvres—knife-edge passes and hard breaks—sent cameras into overdrive. A Viggen–Draken two-ship followed, a formation seen nowhere else outside Aviation PhotoCrew missions. The project concluded with a final Sk60 join-up, marking the end of an era, but with hope ahead as several airframes transition to historic flight status. With memory cards full and smiles even fuller, this was once again a celebration of why Sweden remains unmatched for historic jet photography—and why June 2025 is already firmly on the calendar.