Our permanent exhibition describes the development of Swedish military aviation from its beginnings to today’s JAS 39 Gripen. The exhibition is divided into the periods, Pioneers, Between the wars and State of Readiness and Technical development.
For each period, background is provided about other events in Sweden and the world, the nature of the threat of that period, and how Swedish defence policy and the defence industry responded to that threat. The permanent exhibition also contains a summary of the development of aviation technology.
The 34 planes stand close to each other in the halls, and for every period, a background explanation is given about other events in Sweden and the world, what the threat was, and how Swedish defence policy and the defence industry responded to that threat.
Establishment of the Air Force
The decision of the Swedish Parliament in 1925 to establish an air force as a new branch of the armed forces can be viewed as one of several responses to threatening events outside of Sweden. Many countries quickly realized the opportunities represented by military aircraft. As far back as the Italo-Turkish War in 1911-1912, planes were used, in this case by the Italian military. This was less than ten years since the Wright brothers of the United States had succeeded in flying the first fixed-wing powered flight in1903.
Planes used mostly for reconnaissance
During the pioneering period of aviation, planes were used mostly for reconnaissance. The first weapons consisted of the service pistols of the pilots, but soon the crew used both machine guns and grenades. In the 1920s and 1930s, most of the countries’ air forces focused on bombing enemy bases. During the Second World War, the emphasis was on fighter planes to repel attacks by enemy planes. This task was carried out with rockets and automatic guns.
Planes, slide presentations and technical innovations
The exhibition includes slide presentation for each period, which also shows events in the world, everyday life and pastimes, as well as the technical innovations that led to making that everyday life easier. Objects, both civilian and military, also provide a picture of these times. Unique archived films show planes in flight, as well as work with them on the ground.
Airplanes shown in the exhibit:
| Pioneers |
M 1 Nieuport, B 1 Bréguet, SK 1 Albatros, J 1 Phönix, Ö 1 Tummelisa, Thulin G and SK 5. In the autumn 2010 the exhibit will be completed with the L II Donnet-Lévêque-airplane. |
| Between the wars |
B 3 Junkers Ju 86K, B 4 Hawker Hart, S 6 Fokker CVE, SK 9 DH 60T Moth Trainer, SK 10 Tigerschwalbe, SK 14 NA-16-4M and J 8 Gloster Gladiator. |
| State of Readiness |
B 17 SAAB, B 18 SAAB, B 16 Caproni, S 14 Fieseler Storch, J 9 Seversky Republic, J 11 Fiat CR 42, J 20 Reggiane 2000 Falco, J 21A SAAB, J 22 FFVS and J 26 Mustang. |
| Technical development |
SK 12 Focke Wulf Stieglitz, SK 25 Bücker Bestman, SE 104 DFS Weihe, HKP 1 Vertol 44A, HKP 2 Alouette II, JAS 39 Gripen, SAAB 210 Lill-Draken and J 21R SAAB. |
Top-quality illustrations show the day-to-day life at an air force wing during the various periods. The exhibits also explain the typical features of planes of each period. Films, pictures and information about the planes and the development of the Air Force are shown at multimedia stations. Each plane is also presented on information signs near that plane. The story is made more substantial through important news and events that led to the development of the society we live in today.