DEAR SAFIR ENTHUSIASTS AND FRIENDS.

Here comes a brief documentary of the homecoming of a very special aircraft to Stavanger.

Steven Nygård and I responded to a small ad. for a Safir for sale in Sweden in august.
We flew to Eskilstuna in a C-172 to have a look at the aircraft, and made a decision there and then.
We decided to buy this beauty. SO friends – what is it?? Sit down and read the following!!

At Eskilstuna military (Kjula)airport, a wery special bird was resting in almost deep secrecy.
It was a rare ”A” model -47, -- SE-BNL, -- from the very first production badge of Safirs – a/c no. 28.

It has never been to any of our meetings.

The owner, Sture Sehlstedt, had kept it in immaculate condition since 1977 – he was only the second
private owner besides SAAB ownership for many years. It is in the Safir book.

The transaction paperwork took some time, due to some unnecessary bureucratic misunderstandings
and different paper procedures between Norway and Sweden.

However, - at last everything was cleared, and it was time to pick up the Safir for the flight to Stavanger.

On the evening of thursday 2/12-99, I flew company wise to ARN, and slept over at the most expensive
hotel I have ever used – Sky City at Arlanda airport. Shy away from it. Early in the morning friday 3’rd,
met with mr. Sehlstedt, and we drove to the airport to ready BNL for the flight to Norway.

Full tank. Sture poses in front of his Safir for the last time. It was difficult for both of us.

The flight was a race against time, due to a storm moving towards the coast of Norway from the North Sea.

I checked every new metar at destination for the entire flight, but I had a CAVOK alternate behind me.

This storm caused havoc in Denmark and south of Sweden, but I managed to land at
ENCN –Kjevik (Kristiansand) within 20 minutes of the first snowfall and tremendous increase in winds. .

So far - only rain and reduced visibility. Moments later the airport was closed, with heavy snowfall and
slippery runway.

Coleges circling overhead in B-737’s unable to land.

The staff at ENCN was very helpfull, and I was allowed to put BNL in an old german WW II hangar for the night.

Next morning I could take out a nice dry aircraft for an uneventfull flight to Sola airport - Stavanger.

Steve took this picture after my arrival. All of you can now look forward to the next meeting,
and a new baby on the flightline.

Best regards from Viggo and Steve. Fly safe and savour your dreams and enthusiasm.