1954. Over the next few years, examples would be sold off to various operators. Due to the efforts of Carl Gustaf von Rosen, the Ethiopian Air Force bought 47 which were operated from 1947 until 1968. From 1951, 19 B 17s were loaned to Svensk Flygtjanst AB and AVIA for use as target tugs and painted yellow with civilian markings. One of these, a B 17A SE-BYF was sold to the Austrian Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte in 1957, where it continued to be used as a target tug until retired in 1963. Two B 17As were also sold to the Finnish Ilmavoimat in 1959 and 1960, also as target tugs. Neither of the Finnish aircraft lasted long before being destroyed in accidents. Variants Company designations L 10 internal ASJA/Saab designation; two produced L 10A internal ASJA/Saab designation for 17A, B, and C L 10BL internal ASJA/Saab designation for S17BL L 10BS internal ASJA/Saab designation for S17BS Flygvapnet designations P 7 L 10 development prototypes B 8 Preliminary designation for bomber version of L 10, not used B 17A Bomber with Svenska Flygmotor Aktiebolaget (SFA)-built STWC-3 (Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp) radial engine; 132 built B 17B Bomber with SFA-built Bristol Mercury XXIV radial engine; 55 built B 17C Bomber with Piaggio P.XIbis R.C.40D radial engine; 77 built S 15 Preliminary designation for reconnaissance version of the L 10, not used S 17BL Reconnaissance version of B 17B with wheeled or ski landing gear; 21 built S 17BS Reconnaissance version of B 17B with floats, powered by a Bristol Mercury XXIV engine; 38 built A total of 326 Saab 17 aircraft of all types were produced, and some bombers were converted into reconnaissance aircraft. Operators Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte (Austrian Air Force) - operated one target tug Flyvevåbnet (Royal Danish Air Force) - operated 15 on loan while in exile with the Den Danske Brigade Danforce in 1945. Ye Ithopya A yer Hayl (Imperial Ethiopian Air Force) - operated 47 examples Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) - operated two target tugs Svenska Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force) F 2 Hägernäs/Roslagen Air Corps Naval Support Wing (Hägernäs, near Stockholm) - S 17BS floatplanes only F 4 Frösön/Jämtland Wing (Frösön) F 6 Karlsborg/Västgöta Wing (Karlsborg) F 7 Såtenäs/Skaraborg Wing (Såtenäs) F 12 Kalmar/Kalmar Wing (Kalmar) Surviving aircraft Five Saab 17s are known to be in existence today, three of which are on public display. The Swedish Air Force