National Aeronautical Research Institute ( sv, Flygtekniska försöksanstalten, abbreviated FFA), was a former Swedish state governmental authority under the

Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...

with the aim to conduct research, development and experimentation in the aeronautical field. The FFA was located in

Ulvsunda Ulvsunda is a district in Bromma in western Stockholm, just east of Stockholm Bromma Airport Bromma Stockholm Airport (formerly Stockholm-Bromma Flygplats) is a Swedish domestic and minor international airport in Stockholm. It is located west ...

industrial park in

Bromma Bromma () is a borough (''stadsdelsområde'') in the western part of Stockholm, Sweden, forming part of the Stockholm Municipality. Bromma is primarily made up of Bromma Parish and Västerled Parish. The fourth largest airport in Sweden and the th ...

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

History

The large facility at Ranhammarsvägen was designed by architect Erik and Lars-Erik Lallerstedt (father and son). The FFA was established in 1940 and its first director was Professor Ivar Malmer. Its task was, in accordance with its instruction, to promote the development of aviation technology in Sweden and remunerated conduct aeronautical research and experimentation. Operations were focused on aerodynamic research and testing activities related to the design of the lifting and controlling elements in aircraft and missiles, and partly to the

strength of materials The field of strength of materials, also called mechanics of materials, typically refers to various methods of calculating the stresses and strains in structural members, such as beams, columns, and shafts. The methods employed to predict the re ...

research and testing activities mainly relating to so called high-strength lightweight structures. Initially the agency sorted under the Ministry of Trade, but was transferred in 1963 to the

. The agency was led by a board of directors. Members of this was the head of the FFA, who was the chairman, and six other members which were appointed by the

King in Council The King-in-Council or the Queen-in-Council, depending on the gender of the reigning monarch, is a constitutional term in a number of states. In a general sense, it would mean the monarch exercising executive authority, usually in the form of ap ...

. The head of the FFA was a Director General. It was organized in an office and four departments, namely the Aerodynamic Department, Strength of Materials Department, Metrology Department and the Operation Department. The FFA was disbanded on 31 December 2000, when it together with the National Defence Research Institute (FOA) on 1 January 2001 formed the

Defence Research Agency The Defence Research Agency (DRA) was an executive agency of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) from April 1991 until April 1995. At the time, the DRA was Britain's largest science and technology organisation. In April 1995, the DRA was combined wi ...

(FOI). Later cutbacks in the Swedish defense research subsequently led to the reduction within the FOI and several parts of the former FFA activities, which after a few years ceased to be operated as a separate department. Operations in experimental

aerodynamics Aerodynamics, from grc, ἀήρ ''aero'' (air) + grc, δυναμική (dynamics), is the study of the motion of air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dyn ...

, primarily based on

wind tunnel Wind tunnels are large tubes with air blowing through them which are used to replicate the interaction between air and an object flying through the air or moving along the ground. Researchers use wind tunnels to learn more about how an aircraft ...

testing, which formed a large part of FFA activities both before and immediately after the incorporation of the FOI, was taken over 1 July 2008 by the consulting firm Sjöland & Thyselius AB. A new company, Sjöland & Thyselius Aerodynamic Research Centre AB (STARCS), was formed to continue this business. It ceased its operations in 2011.

Heads

*1940–1948: Ivar Malmer, Deputy Director-General (acting 1940-1942) *1948–1967: Bo Lundberg, Deputy Director-General 1948-1962 (acting 1947-1948), Director General 1962-1967 *1967–1981: Åke Sundén, Director General *1981–1986: Sven-Olof Olin, Director General *1986–1996:

Lars-Bertil Persson Major General Lars-Bertil Persson (born 19 November 1934) is a retired Swedish Air Force officer. He served as wing commander of the Norrbotten Wing (F 21), as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, and as Director General of the National Aeronauti ...

, Director General *1996–2000: Hans Dellner, Director General

Gallery

Former FFA building December 2010.jpg, FFA building in Ulvsunda. Former FFA building (entrance) December 2010.jpg, The main entrance to the FFA's former headquarters in Ulvsunda. Former FFA building December 2010b.jpg, Ulvsunda complex's courtyard with the former wind tunnel.

History

Heads

Gallery

References

Further reading