Flying the Saab Draken and Viggen - Interview with André Brännström

In part one of my interview with SAAB Test Pilot and Solo Demo Pilot André Brännström, he talks about how he became a fighter pilot and his experience flying the SAAB Draken and Viggen operationally. @saabgroup Looking for a good book? Check out the Spectre Series! www.cwlemoine.com
#SAAB
#Draken
#Viggen
Views presented are my own and do not represent the views of DoD or its Components.

[@billbrockman779]

The Viggen has got to be one of the most awesome looking aircraft ever. The Gripen is just gorgeous, IMO.

[@stephensaines7100]

It's hard to believe that it's been in service for over twenty years, albeit the latest variant is only based on the original.

[@AnnWahlquist]

Its a rocket with wings....😁

[@settratheimperishable4093]

Fantastic that we have had both. Viggen: The very definition of power Gripen: The very definition of elegance

[@dogsbd]

The Draken first flew in 1955, it's contemporaries were the F-104, F-105, F-106, MiG-21 etc. And technologically it could hold it's own against any of those, all developed by tiny Sweden. It is an amazing story.

[@protonjinx]

Swedish version of datalink was developed on Drake, AFAIK sweden was about a decade earlier than anyone else with datalink integration in fighter jets and surpasses NATO datalinks even to this day.

[@dogsbd]

@@protonjinx I'm not surprised, the Swedes were/are very innovative.

[@thepilotman5378]

The Dracken still looks amazing 😍 seeing one fly is so odd but cool

[@TzunSu]

@@protonjinx Yup, sadly when we swapped to Link 16 for NATO standards, we lost quite a bit of capability :(

[@Karl-Benny]

@@TzunSu I think they use both i might be wrong dont know

[@ftc9258]

WOW. What a lucky guy to be able to fly all three of them. It's like having flown F-4, F-15, and F-22!!! 😄

[@woaishanghai9645]

My dad flew Lansen and Viggen during the 60s and 70s. At the time we had the worlds’ 4th largest Air Force - pretty insane for tiny Sweden…

[@richardmerrill4036]

My childhood mentor and father of my girlfriend was a test pilot for Mpls Honeywell. He took his family to Sweden for about two years to develop and fly the Viggen. WWII and Korea Marine pilot and test pilot for McDonnell Douglas and Honeywell until his retirement. First to fly side stick controls (in F101) for the X15. A close friend of Neil Armstrong (a rare event). He died in 2021 at 97 years.

[@richardmerrill4036]

Should add two dfc’s and 11 air medals.

[@Fox-One1937]

Rip

[@richardmerrill4036]

Jim Bailey (A. James Bailey)

[@joeyyc8515]

He lived a hell of a life, just being a friend of Neil is crazy enough

[@donquixote1502]

What a man, RIP

[@jprules2578]

As an American, my favorite jet of all time has always been the Viggen...and I grew up just north of Miramar with a neighbor who was a Tomcat pilot from their introduction to the navy. Tomcat is still in my top 5.😉

[@head911]

Awesome interview!! So young when he started and to have flown both the Draken and the Viggen!!! Damn!! Lucky guy!! His Gripen-patch on his shoulder says he has more than 2000 hours in the Gripen!! There are maybe 4-6 guys that has that many hours in that aircraft!!

[@oskforalltid]

4-6 in active duty*. My dad just recently retired at the age of 55 and he has plenty more hours than that and he was not the only one with the hours he has. He was also late in transitioning to Gripen as he started with Viggen.

[@AnnWahlquist]

Not many People has flewn 3 generations of Aircrafts in service....

[@user-fp2gr4ic3x]

@@AnnWahlquist just a correction Draken was near a 3+ gen viggen 4 gen Gripen the latest variant E is a 4+ gen.

[@johanlahti84]

I'd argue the gripen E is a fifth gen, disguised as a 4th gen. It just lacks the F-22/F-35/SU-57 "futuristic" look. Systems are on point though.

[@Mcgregor854]

I was in the United States Air Force and stationed in Germany flying F-15C. We had several opportunities to fly against the SAABs and the Swedish pilots. At that time we were training to keep the Soviet Mongol horde out of Europe so we had some serious real world scenarios. Also, I drove a SAAB 9000 the first year they came out which was 1987. I know this is not a car discussion but man, they are one sweet ride.

[@NADworker]

Haha , I own a 9000aero has 565000km on the odometer still drives great, whatever saab built was different and of high quality!

[@lothwinmore2536]

Cool, anything you like to or can share? Was it against the -35, -37 or both. I read some stories from -35 pilots flying against the F-4. They met sometimes over the Baltic.

[@irou95]

There is an old draken in a roundabout in my city in Turku Finland next to the airport. One of the most honorable places for an old retired aircraft. In nightime there is a light effect coming out of the rear representing afterburner and the whole thing is fully lit every day of the year. Finland used to fly those from 60's to 1995 when we bought f-18's

[@nirfz]

There are a few spread around austria also in roundabouts. Austria used them from the 80's until 2005.

[@Bald_Zeus]

oh wow, been to Turku many times but I never knew about that! Gotta check it out next time I visit

[@user-fp2gr4ic3x]

@@nirfz That says two things, it was a very good old plane, and u have no enimies 😀

[@seegoyt8342]

This video was actually very helpful for someone who actually wants to join the swedish airforce.

[@AverageArtz]

I love the fact that fighter pilots regardless of where they're from, seems to have a unspoken understanding of each other. Great interview as always Mover!

[@mihajlovucinic011]

True. Not really related but there is a documentary about the f-117 that was shot down here in Serbia but its not about the event itself but about the SAM comander and the pilot and the American pilot visits Serbia and the sam commander.

[@JonHuhnMedical]

I love how respectful you are of pilots and aircraft from other countries.

[@joshenarvidsano9976]

Mover behind the controls of a Gripen, now that would be a good show. Come on Andre, pull some strings. Vore gööör fräckt. 👍

[@joshenarvidsano9976]

We are still waiting Andre.....

[@Snakepit92]

So cool that he got to fly all three of the Draken, Viggen and Gripen. Just such cool, unique planes

[@220swift7]

Mover is such a fantastic interviewer. Wonderful video as always!

[@CWLemoine]

I'm fortunate to have such great guests!

[@veli-pekkarama7325]

Try to interview Jyrki Laukkanen. He is Finnish air force test pilot (retired i think?). He was flying migs (21) and also is flying world's only working glosser gauntlet (maybe misspelled).

[@JimNortonsAlcoholism]

@@CWLemoine Interview Indian and Pakistani pilots if you want massive views (and comment infighting of course) my dude

[@andimachovec2719]

Saw a display of the Draken at the Airpower airshow in Zeltweg, Austria in 2019. Loudest one of all the jets that were there :-)

[@strikebr]

That was the coolest video possible, Mover, you are a natural interviewer, you pointed the right questions and let the pilot answer without interrupt him all the time. Great work man, keep it coming.

[@SolitarySwede]

Nice to hear such a competent fellow countryman :) Bra jobbat André! Lycka till med allt!

[@markserbu]

Very cool, great stuff! Amazing what excellent equipment comes out of a country that has a population similar in size to North Carolina or Michigan!

[@harri9885]

Finnish Drakens in the 80's were armed with Sidewinder's. And at the same time Finnish air force also used Mig-21bis with russian radar missiles. The Draken was the dogfighter. :)

[@nirfz]

I remember an interview of a finnish pilot who flew both that stated about those 2: "flying an airshow display you want to be in the Mig21, during air combat you want to be in the Draken"

[@MZ-bl6wg]

11:13 high altitude highspeed “super-stall” WOW!!! Structural integrity!!!!

[@mytmousemalibu]

Jealous of his seat time in the Draken and especially the Viggen, such a badass jet! Until Fat Amy, the JAS-37 Viggen has the largest single jet engine fighter record for a long time. A license built JT8D but in afterburning turbofan flavor. Thats a big GD engine for a fighter-interceptor! And one of very, very few pointy nose jets to have a thrust reverser. The Panavia Tornado being the other. Hope I can see a Viggen air display some day, its called the thunderbolt for a reason! My ears need to hear one rattle the air!

[@MatsGarage]

Anyone talking about Draken and Viggen gets my thumbs up. I miss the days where they would come screaming over the treetops and then dissapear in a slowly dissapating thunder.

[@harrywoodward4282]

The Swedish training pipeline sounds like it has a pretty great mentality as to their environment. The whole idea of getting the most out of their pilots and trying to keep stressloads under control is pretty progressive. I think that less nerves and what not would be rather beneficial to learners especially for safety! Awesome video!

[@matsv201]

While im not a pilot but a engineet this was sort of the etos in sweden from around 1950 untill late 90tys, then it start to change. While it was not perfect fostering potential a head of something else was fairly sucessfull. I was just in the tail end of that and seen the change to what it is now

[@matsv201]

@@TLTeo In the universities it have been partly adopted to bologna principle, we also seen our share of PC culture.with just pure stupidity. While its a popular belief in the US that Sweden is more in trenched in PC culture than USA is, in university its mostly not true. We still have gold oriented number of spots. That is, every year the department of education go out and check out the need for different professions, then change the number of places in every education, then every university and collage get there quota form that number. They also have a loss factor. For engineering this factor is about 30%, for nurses and teachers is about 15-20%, for MD its like 5%. The entrance is sorted by a either high-school grades or standardized test. There is also a qualifier. To be qualified for a MD or a engineer you have to have top qualifier class E (E1 for MD E2 for engineers), for a high-school teacher you have to have calls C qualifier and for nurses i don´t remember, probobly A or B The qualification is course selection not grades. So for E you have to take pretty much all extra theoretical courses at high-school. Also, student loan is a thing in Sweden also. While there is no true collage fee. Living coast in collage is astronomical. While yes, the state give you 1/4 of the cost, you still have to loan for the rest 3/4. While the net sum end up being lower than a education in the US, the time to earn the money back is generally higher. At least for normal professions. For odd professions, then you are much better of in Sweden, the reason being the quotas. So if you get something like a art degree, you are sett. For the military education i don´t know that much about it, i have not been in the system since the late 90tys.

[@danielgustafsson7291]

Sweeet! Love my Swedish Air Force. André is a living legend of a pilot.

[@vmpgsc]

IMHO Andre has the best job in the world flying Gripen E/F demos and tests. Very cool dude with a very cool office.

[@Glee73]

great interview Mover! cant believe how many times i've watched that saab demo, then watching your reaction to it, and now your interview of that actual pilot. always amazed at how a small country like sweden and their achievements in engineering. doesn't get better than this!

[@aragsdale1971]

Glad to see international videos.I went to Ranger School with a Polish Soldier in 96. Strong dude.

[@rickskey]

Andrè is a savage! cool interview.

[@DarthWindu06]

Awesome to see a fellow glider pilot that has such a nice carreer in flying fighters! I hope I can follow his lead soon🙂

[@MagnusWendt]

Swedish Air Force used to sponsor part of the cost of glider trading for young pilots. The skill transfer probably wasn’t as important as building an interest in aviation.

[@Potalot]

känner mig stolt och trygg och veta den här snubben är skyldig till varför många i vårt land sover tryggt och gott 🙌🙌❤❤👏👏

[@LordOfSweden]

Gör man ju inte ändå eftersom vi redan är invaderade av horder av ockupanter. Så ganska lönlöst att ens ha ett försvar.

[@muzzaball]

Hey Mover, great to see an interview with a pilot from another country, flying Euro jets that we don't hear much about. Looking forward to part 2. Cheers mate.

[@stingerdcs435]

It´s awesome to see how other airforces work

[@whalehands4779]

Idk what it is, but knowing that the Gripen is on our side is reassuring. Any of those smaller countries that do more with less, they fight different. To me that is what the Gripen is, more with less.

[@andreawetter]

Fun to see a countryman with you and someone who has flown both Saab 35, 37 and 39.

[@latmask00]

MORE!

[@matsadona]

Pretty biased as a Swede, but great content as always. I grew up in the middle of two fighter wings so there was a lot of jets in the air, and occasionally on the public roads, during the 70 and 80's. Great times. You should try to get Peter Lindén or Alf Ingesson Thoor on the channel. Bet they have some stories to tell, just saying ;)

[@bjornnordgren7258]

Peter Lindén doesnt have a story - he is a story:) Flew: Viggen, JAS Gripen. Best racer in motorcycle racing back in the days, also in Europe. Nowadays he has no collarbones left, but still races classical motorcycles all over Europe:)

[@john-bloss]

One of your best interviews. His story was interesting, and everybody who watches this owes it to themselves to watch his demo flight in the latest Gripen. Your narration of the video was excellent, and Andrė’s demo of the jet was, um, very impressive. (I had two Norwegian roommates when I was in UPT, and those guys were already really good sticks before they got here. But I’m sure not as good as the Swedes. ;-)

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

The LWF Fighter mafia studied every fighter in service as they developed the concept for the YF-16. Draken was one of the best, large wing surface, low loading and good PW ratio.

[@wilsonrawlin8547]

Andre seems very humble and also and Top Gun pilot at the same time. Part of a brilliant and rare breed. Always remembering their lives are on the end of a silver thread of survival.

[@thomasirwin4099]

Superb stuff as usual, Mover. Andre seems very thoughtful, andI'm always stunned at how good Swedish folks are at English. What little Swedish I understand doesn't have much crossover between it and English, and the same applies to a lot of the regional languages. The SAAB aircraft are fascinating in terms of design and capability, and they seem like they'd be tough opponents. Looking forward to Part 2!

[@Obeythebeard]

At 16:20, this came to my mind straight away: "- How do you know someone is a fighter pilot? Never mind, he'll tell you..."

[@MarcusAurileus]

This was such a great video and interview. Myself, I am such a huge fan of the SAAB aircraft...the Viggen being my favourite . Thanks for a video with such great insight

[@andyl6742]

This is always great to hear from military aviators from other countries around the world and thier experiences on different airframes that you don't usually get to hear about. I would love to see more of this type of content. Great channel and great work.

[@bill8784]

I remember a visiting RAF instructor at university telling us they were advantages to teaching 18 year olds straight from school to fly compared to university graduates aged 21 or older.

[@ramal5708]

So today we're heading to Sweden, let's go. I hope you can make more content with pilots from other nations.

[@johanr3156]

Great interview! Growing up close to an airbase, I got my interest in aviation from seeing Viggens flying over my house at tree top level. I hope during part two, we get to hear about how close to combat they trained in the 90’s and how low they flew. Amazing sight and airplane!

[@stuarttempleton43]

Awesome - really interesting to hear from a Swedish Pilot, can't wait for part two. I can guarantee that like me, any scale modeller listening to this now wants to build a SAAB! I really enjoy your interviews Mover, it's one of the things I enjoy about your channel, you're an excellent interviewer, knowledgeable, but unlike some people you make it about the interviewee, not yourself. Keep em' coming!

[@woolymittens]

Wow, that was probably the fastest 18 minutes of your videos I've watched! Can't wait for part 2, I really like how after you ask a question you just let your guest go and give a full answer. Great interview style and a fascinating guest! 👍

[@waxon9046]

Always loved the Viggen! Saw a few airshow displays in the 90's and that engine made some serious noise! Looking forward to part 2!

[@mxcollin95]

That was a badass looking aircraft.

[@josephstevens9888]

Great interview! I always enjoy hearing from pilots from other nations.

[@MZ-bl6wg]

Andre, Thankyou so much for you service , from an American Patriot.

[@arthurpearson3407]

It’s great to get insight into the processes that other nations use in their pilot program. I’ve been to Farnborough and seen foreign fighter demos(Rafael, Grippen) we don’t get a chance to see here. Impressive.

[@tituslaronius]

As a swede, I'm super happy about this video!

[@svenschwingel8632]

Pretty cool that you got a hold of the demo pilot who limited his frame rate by using the mirrors 😂😎

[@shawn2443]

Fantastic as usual ! The accent and the humor put a grin on my chin the whole time. Can’t wait for parts 2, 3 and 4 ; )

[@johankaewberg8162]

Tack André för jobbet med Draken och Viggen. Jag är så stolt att Sverige har kunnat leverera stridsplan i världsklass så länge.

[@seybertooth9282]

This man had an insane career and he was both lucky and smart to get to fly three generations of Swedish aircraft. Small countries like Sweden usually only have one operational fighter at the time (unlike large air forces, or huge ones cough cough the US, who offers their pilots a menu of choices).

[@dougcronkhite2113]

Great interview so far, Mover! Looking forward to part 2.

[@CWLemoine]

Part two is up!

[@judemurphy3356]

Cant wait for part two such a cool guy. Big respect for both of you from Ireland.

[@kurtboginski507]

Very interesting interview. Andre seems very down to earth and easy going. Looking forward to Part 2. Thanks mover!

[@oriskany5966]

Sweet! Good interview, Mover! André is a truly solid guy through and through.

[@cuteshadow]

i saw Draken sometimes overhead, always thought they looked more like UFOs than actual planes. But they appeared to be awfully loud. Great interview!

[@matsv201]

Yea it does, but its sligtly more noisy

[@tastler]

Very nice and informative interview! Thanks to the both of you for sharing!

[@GunnarLoeb]

Great interview! Thanks!

[@007Mugs]

Fantastic interview! I'm looking forward to Part 2.

[@jimmagwojo2718]

Great interview love hearing two pilots enjoy themselves talking about flying

[@boggy8557]

How cool, I don't know anything about Saab aircraft, quite refreshing to hear about them and see the footage

[@henrikwerder]

Awesome! can't wait for the next one!

[@dougstitt1652]

Yeah SAAB grew up driving one . Good interview Moover and thank you Andre`

[@EricPalmerBlog]

Awesome!!!! Sidebar, so proud of all your achievements Mover!

[@ja37d-34]

Glad you interviewed this guy. :) Greetings from Sweden.

[@magnusjohansson5841]

On the channel "Försvarsmakten" is a series called "Vägen till stridspilot" that shows how flying school works these days. Only in swedish though and the automatic translation is far from perfect.

[@rickhadley2203]

Excellent interview, and makes me realize how much I miss some of my long-ago Swedish friends.

[@ricm3633]

Can’t wait for part 2 !!!!

[@Mrbumbons1]

I could listen to this guy for hours.

[@nilsolofolsson9067]

Thank you, Lemoine, for this.

[@perspicator5779]

Fantastic! An artist of understatement! Too cool! Part II?

[@Trieppo]

Great content! Good concept to interview professionals. Thanks!

[@thetoiletinspector6878]

in a past livestream I asked if you were able to get some fighter pilots from other countries to interview, so to see this interview is awesome.

[@andresilvasophisma]

Great interview, can't wait for part 2.

[@diosyntaxa]

Looking forward to part 2 :) Subscribed after the Ghost of Kyiv video but have seen a number of your videos before and as soon as that guy called you and Wombat doushes, well the way you handled that made me click subscribe :) Always interesting stuff

[@tntfreddan3138]

Last member of my family to serve active duty in the military was my great grandfather (my father's father's father). He served in the Swedish Navy and was a crew member on the coastal defense battleship HSwMS Sverige from the mid to late 1930s. He actually retired from the navy just a matter of weeks before WW2 started and became a bus driver.

[@timothywachowicz8308]

So good Andre & Mover!!! Such a unique perspective & great Human Being(s)! The Swedes have it going on situated in a strategically challenging environment! Looking forward to part 2! CW Your interviews are so much fun, genuine, & interesting bringing out the best in You both! Would You consider reaching out to BRIAN SHUL Top Gun instructor, SR-71 Pilot, photographer & motivational speaker? I believe the chemistry would be awesomely engaging & informative between You 2 not to mention You are both Air Force lol. Blue Skies Brother!

[@marcuseriksson2871]

Thank you for several parts of this.

[@Fox-One1937]

Awesome, great contenant, hope some similar interviews with international allies

[@christofferlarsson8901]

I did my military service at the swedish AF training academy in Ljungbyhed about the same time that Andre must have done his training there. Don’t remember him, but I remember when the J 35 Draken came from near by Fighter wing F10 in Ängelholm. Sometimes due to fog at F10 they had to stay overnight at Ljungbyhed and leave the next morning. I remember standing outside the hangar watching them taking off two by two down the runway and the unbelivable roar just lingering in the air for like five minutes. The funny thing is that F10 is about 35km away and the planes must have landed before the sound died out. Nice memories😊

[@ESPirits87]

I saw André flying the Gripen E about a month ago and it was very impressive how he handled that.

[@martyniner8893]

Awesome interview!

[@lynnecheermom]

Excellent interview. Very engaging.

[@BugoHossBH]

Great sense for interviewing. Not talking about yourself and a great listener. Great one C.W. I am not a pilot but I am an enthusiast. So not borring at all.

[@IceyJones]

all 3 are interesting aircraft...... curious to see part 2

[@Wonkabar007]

Great interview 👍

[@luizucchetto2528]

Love these bio videos!

[@petter5721]

Awesome interview 👍🏻

[@johnstrauch2112]

That was excellent !

[@ryansmithza]

Is part 2 ready yet? Awesome video!

[@kenhelmers2603]

TOO SHORT! LOL Great interview, can't wait for pt2 :)

[@Aircrewinterview]

Awesome!