The Saab 340B, a proven twin-turboprop regional airliner, is now available in the Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Marketplace.
Sturdy and Reliable
The 340B is a twin-turboprop commercial airplane manufactured by Swedish company Saab. The B is an advanced iteration of the Saab 340, the development of which began in the 1970s. The 340B can be configured for regional passenger service or for freight applications. Crewed by two, it can carry up to 34 passengers or up to 7,500 pounds of cargo.
Saab’s history in commercial aviation dates to the 1940s with the Saab 90 Scandia, a twin-engine, piston powered airliner resembling the Douglas DC-3. In the early 1970s, Saab began a new foray into commercial aviation with a program called the Saab Transporter. The company eventually partnered with American aircraft manufacturer Swearingen, a subsidiary of Fairchild Aircraft. Together, the companies refined a concept for a turboprop-powered commercial airframe that could accommodate up to 34 passengers. The seat count provided a base for its name: the Saab-Fairchild 340.
The prototype of the 340 took its maiden flight on January 25, 1983 and the first production model, the 340A, entered service in June of 1984. Saab took over complete control of manufacturing in 1985. The company then created an improved variant, the 340B. The 340B features more powerful and efficient engines and a redesigned empennage. The performance improvements of the 340B over the 340A include extended range, much better high density altitude performance, and a higher maximum take-off weight. Saab created the 340B by upgrading the engines of the 340B and extending the wingspan of select models. The 340B boasts a higher maximum payload and a faster maximum cruise speed.
The Saab 340B measures 64 feet, 9 inches in length, stands 22 feet, 10 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 70 feet, 4 inches (the extended wing variant has a wingspan of 74 feet, 8 inches). It is powered by two General Electric CT7-9B turboprop engines that each deliver up to 1,870 shaft horsepower. Each engine turns a 4-blade, constant-speed propeller. The Saab 340B has a range of 1,047 miles, a service ceiling of 25,000 feet above sea level, and a maximum cruise speed of 326 miles per hour.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Saab 340B
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Saab 340B is ready for simmers to take on routes throughout the Microsoft Flight Simulator world. The Saab 340B is available in the following variants: Passenger and Cargo. The Passenger variant comes with the following liveries: SprintAir, Regional Express, White. The Cargo variant comes with the following liveries: SprintAir, Regional Express, White. Created by developer Carenado, the Saab 340B is available now from the in-sim Marketplace for USD $19.99. The sky is calling!
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