The Swedish National Team is aiming high this winter and they are reaching the sky with the help of their own airplane – Swedish Ski Force 1. “This is literally a lift for us. With our own chartered plane we’ll save both time and energy when traveling,” says Olympic hopeful Emil Jönsson, 24.
Last season the Swedish team presented their unique wax truck. The impressive, easy to spot Scania truck gave the team many advantages on the World Cup and at the World Championships in Liberec. It is a great advantage to be able to travel from race to race with your own mobile workspace with room for 600 pairs of skis, poles and waxes. Now, get ready for the sequel: an airplane – Swedish Ski Force 1. The plane is painted in the Swedish National Team colors, just like the Scania truck.
A few days ago the athletes were told about the plane, their newest weapon when battling the other skiers on the World Cup, and they gave it two thumbs up! “It’s a nice, cool and very comfortable plane. We will feel like kings traveling to and from the World Cups like this,” says sprinters Emil Jönsson and Robin Bryntesson. Both Emil and Robin were onboard for the first flight, a domestic flight between Bromma and the Östersund/Åre Airport.
It is the very progressive airline NextJet that will be sponsoring the national team with specially chartered flights, carrying Sweden’s fastest skiers to their destinations. “This sponsorship agreement means that we can, on very short notice, fly skiers to and from races all over Scandinavia and Europe. We will save a lot of time. We don’t have to deal with the difficulty of buying tickets or the long layovers in airports. In addition, we’ll minimize the risk of exposure to sick travelers,” says Johan Sares, head of marketing for the national team.
“We are happy if we in any way can add to the team’s success and victories, says Magnus Ivarsson the CEO of NextJets. He adds, “I’m also exited over the fact that 13 out of the 15 national team skiers live in my native Jämtland (region in Sweden).”
The plane is a Saab 340A. A photo of the plane can be viewed here.
Source: Langde.se
3 comments
Tim Kelley
September 24, 2009 at 3:00 am
Penn Air in Alaska flies those Saab 340s. They are fine regional planes and would be good for getting around Scandinavia and Europe. But that plane isn’t going to make it over the big pond to the Olympics. For that trip they will have to fly the commercial swine-flu airlines, just like everyone else!
gkentch
September 24, 2009 at 10:52 am
Wow, one more entry for the U.S. against the world/disparate resources afforded skiing file. This will only make it that much sweeter for any American skier beating a Swede (or anyone else) on our relative home turf in February.
nordicmatt
September 24, 2009 at 6:27 pm
As a frequent traveller on “Pen(When)Air, I hope the Swedes insist their luggage/skis travel with them vs. the next day.