Four days in mid-June 2010 were dedicated ones at Malmen air base, in Linköping, celebrating the centennial of Sweden’s aviation industry - and its Air Force. This began with an aerospace industry conference, followed by one focused on European air power the next day, re-inauguration of the majorly refurbished and expanded Swedish Air Force Museum and finally, on Sunday 13 June 2010, an air event billed as “the biggest air show of the decade” with aircraft ranging from the Tummelisa to the Gripen fourth generation multi-role combat aircraft, attracting over 50,000 visitors.

Malmen is the birthplace of Swedish military aviation, where a military flight school was established in 1912. Malmen is today base for the Swedish Air Force’s Helicopter Wing as well as housing the Air Combat Training School. Maj Gen Anders Silwer, Chief of the Swedish Air Force was a familiar figure at Malmen over the four days and inaugurated the event with his key note address. This was followed by focus on the Swedish aeronautics industry by Åke Svensson, President and CEO of Saab AB, his successor, Håkan Buskhe also present at the occasion.

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