Flygvapenmuseum
Carl Cederströms gata 2
586 63 Linköping
Daily 10.00 - 17.00 h (summer)
Daily 12.00 - 16.00 h (winter)
Admission free
www.flygvapenmuseum.se
Tel. +1 (206) 764 5720

The Swedish Air Force museum is situated at Malmen airbase near the town of Linköping. It is a threehour drive on the motorway from Stockholm airport to the museum. When approaching Linköping you get the feeling that this is aviation territory, as along the motorway there are several Saab built aircraft mounted on Poles. 

The museum opened in 1984. When I visited it the first time there was only one hangar and many aircraft were standing outside, exposed to the elements. In 2010 there was an expansion with the result that most aircraft are now displayed indoors, grouped into themes. Entry to the museum is free and you even get a brochure, which is available in several languages, that gives an introduction and the layout of the museum. There is also a shop and a small restaurant.

The best day to visit is Thursday because then the museum is open from 11 in the morning until eight in the evening.

 The exhibition is basically grouped into three themes:

• 1910 to 1945

• Cold war exhibition

• The diappeared DC-3

Most informational text is in swedish and english.

Some of the bigger aircraft are displayed outside because of their size. Both the Caravelle and the Canberra were used for electronic intelligence gathering and were highly secret.

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English Electric Canberra B.2 (TP 52)(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

This is no doubt the most interesting part of the museum. There are not only aircraft of Swedish design and manufacture displayed here, but also many unique examples that can’t be seen anywhere else in the world. The Junkers Ju 86 is just such an aircraft. There are only a few display cases along the wall which means the aircraft are relatively free standing and accessible.

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Thulin G

Donnet Lévêque L II

Donnet Lévêque L II

Macchi M.7

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Bréguet C.U 1(B 1)

Nieuport IV-G (M 1)

Albatros B.II (SK 1)

Phönix D.III 222 (J 1)

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FVM/CVM Tummeliten (Ö 1)

Heinkel HD35 (SK 5)

Raab-Katzenstein RK-26 Tigerschwalbe (SK 10)

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Caproni Ca 313 (S 16 / B 16)

Hawker Hart (B 4)

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Hawker Hart (B 4)

North American NA 16-4M (SK 14)

Seversky Republic EP-1 Model 106 (J 9)

Fiat C.R.42 (J 11)

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Junkers Ju 86 K (B 3)

Fieseler Fi 156C Storch (S 14)

Reggiane Re 2000 Falco 1 (J 20)

Reggiane Re 2000 Falco 1 (J 20)

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North American P-51D 20-NA Mustang (J 26)

FFVS J 22 (J 22B)

Saab 17 (B 17)

Saab 21 (J 21A)

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De Havilland 60T Moth Trainer  (SK 9)

Saab 18 (B 18)

Saab 39-2 Gripen ( JAS 39)

Saab 210 Lilldraken

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Saab 21R (J 21R)

Focke Wulf Fw 44J Stieglitz (SK 12)

Bücker Bü 181B-1 Bestmann (SK 25)

Vertol 44B (HKP 1)

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Sud Aviation SE 3130 Alouette II   (HKP 2)

DFS Weihe A-3 (SE 104)

This exhibition doesn’t just show off the aircraft, but also tries to show what happened during this time and how Sweden developed. There are for example standard kitchens or living rooms included in the display to show how the government tried to improve on the living standards of many people.

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This is dedicated to the DC-3 and its crew that disappeared on a surveillance flight in June 1952. No trace of it was found until 50 years later. It was intercepted on its flight that brought it close to the Russian border by Migs which shot it down. There were no survivors. The whole wreck and other items from the crash site were salvaged and are now displayed in this special setting.

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Bristol Jupiter VII F (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

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