Flygvapenmuseum – Linköping / Malmen, Sweden

Located at Malmslätt, just west of Linköping, the Flygvapenmuseum – Swedish Air Force Museum is one of the most impressive military aviation museums in Scandinavia and an absolute must for anyone interested in Swedish aviation.

The museum is situated right next to Malmen Air Base, an airfield with a history stretching back to the very earliest days of Swedish military aviation. Today Malmen remains an important Swedish Armed Forces aviation base, while the museum next door tells the complete story of the development of Swedish military flying.

Inside the large exhibition halls you can follow Swedish military aviation from its earliest pioneering aircraft to the modern jet age. The collection contains aircraft, helicopters, engines, equipment, uniforms and thousands of other objects connected with more than a century of Swedish aviation history.

For military aviation enthusiasts, the aircraft collection is obviously the highlight.

Some of Sweden’s most famous aircraft designs can be seen here, including aircraft from the legendary Saab family such as the Saab 29 Tunnan, Saab 32 Lansen, Saab 35 Draken, Saab 37 Viggen and aircraft representing the modern JAS 39 Gripen era.

Together they show the extraordinary development of the Swedish aviation industry during the Cold War, when Sweden designed and produced its own generation of advanced combat aircraft.

Older aircraft tell the story of the years before and during the Second World War. Among the collection are types such as the J 26 Mustang, Saab B 17 and several extremely rare early military aircraft.

One particularly important aircraft is the Junkers Ju 86, of which the museum preserves a unique surviving example.

The Swedish Air Force and the Cold War

A large part of Flygvapenmuseum is devoted to the Cold War period, when Sweden maintained one of the largest and most capable air forces in Europe.

Although officially neutral, Sweden invested heavily in its air defence. Hundreds of combat aircraft were spread across military air bases and specially prepared road bases throughout the country.

Aircraft such as the Tunnan, Lansen, Draken and later the Viggen became symbols of this era.

The museum does an excellent job of combining the aircraft with the wider story behind them. Displays explain not only how the aircraft were developed and operated, but also how Swedish society, defence policy and technology changed during the twentieth century.