Feel the ground tremble and the sky ignite as a true legend of Scandinavian aviation returns to the spotlight! During the weekend of 12 & 13 September, the International Sanicole Airshow will host one of the most unmistakable silhouettes ever to grace the skies: the mighty Saab AJS 37 Viggen.
Designed by the legendary Swedish manufacturer Saab AB during the 1960s, the Viggen—meaning “Thunderbolt”—was built to answer Sweden’s unique defense requirements. Engineered for short take-off and landing (STOL) performance and extraordinary versatility, the aircraft could intercept enemy targets, deliver precision strikes, conduct reconnaissance, and train pilots—all in one formidable platform.
What truly sets the Viggen apart is its revolutionary canard-delta wing design. The forward-mounted canards combined with the powerful delta wing created an aircraft far ahead of its time, delivering remarkable maneuverability, superb short-field performance, and blistering supersonic speed. It also pioneered the extensive use of onboard computer technology in flight control systems—an innovation that helped cement the Viggen’s reputation as a technological trailblazer.
Entering service in 1971, the Viggen rapidly became the backbone of the Swedish Air Force during the tense years of the Cold War. Designed to operate from dispersed road bases across Sweden, it could launch quickly and strike decisively—an airborne guardian of Scandinavian skies.
Bringing this iconic aircraft to Sanicole is the passionate team of the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight. Dedicated to preserving Sweden’s proud aviation heritage, the foundation operates an impressive collection of historic aircraft ranging from World War II classics to Cold War jets. Their beautifully maintained AJS-37 Viggen will appear in a stunning bare-metal finish, representing the ground-attack optimized variant that also retained formidable air-defense capability.
When the Viggen lights its afterburner and tears across the Belgian sky, you’ll be witnessing raw power, groundbreaking engineering, and living aviation history.
Don’t miss this spectacular display of Swedish innovation at the International Sanicole Airshow 2026. When this Cold War icon surges through the airspace above Hechtel-Eksel, expect thunder, speed, and pure aviation nostalgia.
