Hanhart is based in Germany’s Black forest, in a small town of Gütenbach, and is best known for its vintage pilot watches. The brand has paid tribute in recent years to the Austrian Air Force with Primus Pilot limited edition. Hanhart has now created S-Series to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of Saab 105 trainer aircraft with the Austrian and Swedish Air Force with three limited edition watches.
The Saab 105 was developed to function as a small and inexpensive multirole aircraft in the early sixties. There were total of 192 of these aircrafts manufactured between 1963 to 1967, wherein 150 were purchased by Swedish Air Force, and 40 were exported to Austrian Air Force under the designation Saab 105Ö. The Saab 105 is also the aircraft used by Swedish Air Force display team Team 60 and was formerly used by two display teams of the Austrian Air Force, “Karo As” and “Silver Birds”. The unit cost of Saab 105 trainer was $210,000.
This private venture by Saab was intended to be used by both the military and civil aviation. In a military capacity, the 105 can be operated as a jet trainer, conduct aerial reconnaissance and ground attack, and a limited interceptor capability. In civil aviation, Saab proposed a four-to-five seat business jet which could be used by corporate customers. At the time, the 105 was one of the only small European aircraft to be equipped with turbofan. Saab was betting on this plane to launch the company into the business jet market, but no such customers emerged, so Saab elected to focus on military customers instead.
As it became clear in the 1980s that the sub-sonic aircraft were inadequate for air combat and airspace interdiction, Austria purchased 28 reconditioned Saab 35 Draken fighter aircraft to supersede the Saab 105 as the Austrian Air Force’s main interceptor in 1988. However, there are eighteen Saab 105 which remain in service as a trainer and surveillance aircraft today.
The design of the S-Series is based on the Saab 105 cockpit clock. All three pilot watches have a 40mm stainless steel case with PVD coating. The date window is in the style of aircraft altimeter. The dial configuration of S 105 OE watches is straightforward with numbers in contemporary fonts and 24-hour second time zone layout in the outer chapter ring. The dial configuration of SK 60 GMT is more interesting with 12-6-9 numbers and hour markers in white, and seconds hand, GMT hand, and date indicator in bright yellow. The non-GMT watch is powered by either Sellita SW200 or ETA 2824 automatic movements. The GMT watches have either Sellita SW 300 or ETA 2893 automatic movements. Both the movements keep the case height to 12mm, which can be worn under normal shirt cuffs.
S 105 OE GMT
The S 105 GMT is inspired by the design of the instrument clock of the Saab 105 OE, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the Austrian Air Force. Price: 1,290 euros.
S 105 OE
Like the S 105 GMT, the S 105 three-hands watch is inspired by the design of the Saab 105 OE instrument clock. Price: 990 euros.
SK 60 GMT
The SK 60 GMT is based on the Saab 105 model of the Swedish Air Forces, which had the designation of SK 60. Price: 1,290 euros.
There is a neat Easter egg on the dial with the GPS coordinate 48 02 35 N 008 08 11 E on the dial. The GPS coordinate is the exact location of Hanhart HQ in Gutenbach. Hanhart is accepting pre-orders now where you can select your edition number, if available. Watches are expected to be available in November 2019.
SPECIFICATIONS
MOVEMENT S 105 OE
Sellita SW 200 / ETA 2824 automatic movement
MOVEMENT S 105 OE GMT and SK 60 GMT
Sellita SW 330 / ETA 2893 automatic movement
FUNCTIONS
Hacking center second
Date display at 3
GMT hand, second time zone (except S 105 OE)
CASE
Stainless steel with PVD coating
Diameter 40mm, height 12mm
Convex, one-sided, mirrored sapphire crystal
Screw-in case back with Saab 105 engraving
Waterproof up to 10bar / 10 ATM according to DIN 8310
DIAL
Black with SuperLumiNova coated hands, numbers, and indexes
STRAP
Black calfskin with PVD-coated Pin buckle
Lug width: 20 mm
Learn More About Hanhart S-Series Limited Edition Here
Photo Credit: Hanhart