Saab Viggen Announced as First Star of Antidotum Airshow Leszno 2026
The organisers of Antidotum Airshow Leszno have confirmed the Saab 37 Viggen as the first headline aircraft for the 2026 edition of the event, marking a major early announcement for one of Europe’s most distinctive airshows.
Revealed via the show’s official social media channels, the organisers described the moment as a milestone in the history of the event, announcing: “The legendary Viggen will heat up Leszno with the warmth of its afterburner on both days of the show.” The appearance will be made by the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight, and will form part of wider celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Swedish Air Force.
The AJS 37 represented the Viggen’s final frontline evolution, upgraded in the 1990s to extend the type’s strike and reconnaissance role well into the post-Cold War era.
A Cold War Icon Returns to the European Airshow Circuit
The Saab 37 Viggen remains one of the most instantly recognisable combat aircraft ever produced in Europe. Designed and built by Saab during the Cold War, the Viggen entered service in the early 1970s and was developed specifically to meet Sweden’s unique defence requirements.
Its unconventional canard-delta configuration, combined with a powerful RM8 afterburning turbofan engine, gave the Viggen exceptional short take-off and landing performance. This allowed it to operate from dispersed road bases across Sweden, a cornerstone of the country’s Cold War defensive doctrine. The aircraft served in multiple roles, including fighter interception, strike, reconnaissance, and maritime patrol, remaining in frontline service until the mid-2000s.
Today, the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight operates two Viggens in airworthy condition, the single-seat AJS 37 Viggen and the two-seat SK 37E. Which Viggen will appear at Leszno in 2026 hasn’t been confirmed. Whatever the exact aircraft, a Viggen at a European airshow is still rare and a big draw for fans and aviation enthusiasts.
Designed for short road bases and raw power, the Viggen combined brutal acceleration with a distinctive sound that remains unforgettable decades later.
Swedish Air Force Historic Flight and the Centenary Year
The Swedish Air Force Historic Flight is a volunteer-supported organisation dedicated to preserving and displaying historically significant aircraft formerly flown by the Swedish Air Force. Its fleet spans multiple generations of Swedish military aviation, from early jet fighters through to late Cold War types, and is widely regarded as one of the most active and authentic historic military flight operations in Europe.
The Viggen’s appearance at Leszno carries additional symbolic weight, as 2026 marks 100 years since the formation of the Swedish Air Force in 1926. Announcing the aircraft’s participation, the organisers noted: “Together with the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight team, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Swedish Air Force.”
They also acknowledged the significance of the collaboration, adding: “We would like to thank the Swedes for the honour and for accepting the invitation to Leszno.” International appearances by the Viggen remain limited, making its inclusion in the Leszno programme particularly notable.
The SK 37E two-seat Viggen played a vital role in conversion and training, giving pilots their first taste of one of Europe’s most powerful Cold War fighters.
Antidotum Airshow Leszno: Built for Light, Sound and Atmosphere
Antidotum Airshow Leszno has earned a strong reputation for doing things differently. Unlike conventional daytime airshows, the event is structured entirely around late afternoon, evening, and night flying. Displays build gradually toward sunset before transitioning into darkness, where lighting effects, pyrotechnics, and carefully choreographed routines with live music take centre stage.
This format suits fast jets perfectly. As the organisers themselves pointed out, the Viggen is loud, unmistakable, and impossible to ignore, exactly the kind of aircraft that works best in Leszno’s evening setting.
Seeing the Viggen perform against a setting sun, with afterburner lit and sound rolling across the airfield, promises to be one of the defining moments of the 2026 season. For photographers and aviation enthusiasts alike, Leszno’s lighting conditions and close display lines have become a hallmark of the event.
Built to replace the Saab 32 Lansen, the Viggen became the backbone of Swedish air defence before handing over the role to the Gripen in the 2000s.
A Statement Opening for the 2026 Line-up
By confirming the Saab Viggen as the first announced participant, the Antidotum Airshow Leszno organisers have set a clear tone for their 2026 programme. “Yes, we are starting to announce the participants,” they wrote. “There will be jets, there will be afterburners, it will be beautiful.”
More announcements are expected in the months ahead, but the early inclusion of the Viggen already positions Antidotum Airshow Leszno 2026 as one of the most anticipated European airshows of the year.
For now, the prospect is simple and compelling: a legendary Swedish Cold War fighter, flown by its historic operator, displayed at sunset during one of Europe’s most atmospheric airshows. For aviation enthusiasts, it is a combination that needs very little selling.
For more details, see our full Antidotum Airshow Leszno 2026 preview here, or visit the event’s official website here.
