This area has been the site of military activities for a long time. A stone monument near the present guardhouse at Malmen in Linköping has the following inscription:
"Östergötland’s sons have trained in the use of arms in defence of Sweden since the time of King Carl XI."
Generally viewed as having been associated with military purposes since the 16th century, Malmen is one of Sweden’s oldest training grounds. The names and the organisation forms of the units have been many, from the Östgöta Infantry and Östgöta Cavalry, through the Royal Östgöta Air Squadron F 3, the Östgöta helicopter battalion, and finally the Armed Forces helicopter wing.
The site of flying demonstrations by Cederström, the Flying Baron
There have been flights at Malmen since the demonstration flights in 1911 by Flying Baron, Carl Cederström, who saw this location as perfect for aviation. Cederström started a flying school here at Malmen, and two years later, military aviation took over his hangars.
von Porat and Beckhammar
Gösta von Porat, one of the very first military aviators in Sweden, ensured that planes and other material were stored rather than scrapped. Various storage facilities were used for this purpose, and in the 1940s, Hugo Beckhammar, who was then the commander of the squadron, gained access to a camp building that become the F 3 Museum in 1951. The collection here contained eleven planes, as well as engines, cameras, and other peripheral equipment. The collection grew, and after the 50th anniversary of Swedish military aviation in 1962, the museum served as a storage location where objects were tightly packed. The building was located in a military area, so that the public was not allowed access to the museum.
A future museum of aviation discussed
In 1961, the City Council of Linköping decided to appoint a committee to investigate the possibilities of building a museum of aviation in Linköping. Many possible sites were discussed, including one in the vicinity of the Old Linköping Open Air Museum.
The ÖFS exhibited planes in Ryd
When Carl Cederströms gata (street) was going to be laid through the wing area, the camp building containing the F 3 Museum needed to be demolished. The City of Linköping then quickly erected a storage building in the Ryd area. In February 1967, ground was broken, and soon the storage building in Ryd was the home of 26 planes and related equipment. The public finally gained access to the collection, and the Östergötland Society for Aviation History (ÖFS) provided the personnel and maintenance.
The Swedish Air Force Museum in three stages
After additional studies, the Swedish Air Force Museum was established on 1 July 1977, as a part of the National Swedish Museums of Military History (SFHM). The Swedish Parliament decided that the museum would be located at Malmen, the cradle of Swedish military aviation. In the spring of 1981, the government tasked the Swedish Fortifications Agency with planning a new building for the Swedish Air Force Museum at Malmen. This museum would be built in three stages, beginning in December 1982. On 8 March 1984, the new museum was dedicated with pomp and ceremony by His Majesty the King. On 19 May 1989, Stage Two (the second half of the exhibits) was dedicated by Prince Bertil. Today, the third expansion stage was been realised.
See and learn more at the Swedish Air Force Museum – Malmen ca 1911
The museum has a 1:400 scale model showing how the military camp at Malmen looked from the second half of the 19th century until about 1935, when the buildings started to be demolished. Today, there are about ten buildings remaining of the about one hundred shown in the model. With the help of the model, visitors can learn more about the buildings and life at Malmen. Near the model, there are photos and information about the park, cooking pits and mess halls, the hospital, the red storage, the officers’ club and the enlisted men’s barracks.