TEAM 60 is the Swedish International Display Team. The name 'Team 60' originates from the Swedish Air Force designation for the SAAB 105 which is the SK60. The team performs with six SAAB 105 aircraft.
For displays in Sweden the team are self-supporting and carry the groundcrew in the aircraft but on deployments to other countries a support aircraft in the form of a C-130 Hercules is used.
HISTORY
The team made their first public appearance in 1976, the team's foundation being laid the previous year when the Commander-in-Chief approved the formation and naming of the team as 'TEAM 60'. The Swedish Air Force has a long tradition of air display teams dating back to the 1930's when three flying instructors formed a team flying three Focke Wulf Fw 44J Stieglitz trainers.
The tradition was continued with display teams flying the SAAB J29 (Flying Barrel), Hunter and Draken to show the Swedish people where their tax money was going and to act as a recruiting tool. In 1967 the Swedish Air Force formed a improvised and unofficial display team to fly the SAAB 105 at Le Bourget to promote the SAAB 105 and encourage orders from abroad.
Team 60 made its official debut as a 6 aircraft team in May 1976. Originally in 1974 the team was made up of four aircraft but two more aircraft were added later on as it was necessary to enable the team to split into a synchronised pair and a four-ship.
Today TEAM 60 has many years of experience of displaying at home and abroad, and despite the team members describing themselves as a amateur display team their approach towards safety and their flying makes them anything but amateurs.
Thanks to Stéphane MORIER for suppling all the TEAM 60 photographs on this page.
The Swedish Air Force purchased 150 SAAB 105 (SK.60's) in 1965 as a basic trainer and a light attack aircraft.
AIRSHOWS 2008
2008 TEAM 60 Schedule:
Due to current economic climate and the need for the pilots to retrain to display standards, regrettably Team 60 will not be displaying in 2008.
TEAM 60 is the Swedish International Display Team. The name 'Team 60' originates from the Swedish Air Force designation for the SAAB 105 which is the SK60. The team performs with six SAAB 105 aircraft.
