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100 years of flight celebrated in Linköping

100 years of flight celebrated in Linköping Today, December 17, the 100th anniversary of flight is being celebrated in many parts of the world. Linköping local authority, the Swedish Air Force Museum and Saab are celebrating the occasion together, partly involving the inauguration of a Gripen simulator at the Swedish Air Force Museum in the presence of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers carried out the first controlled and manned powered flight on the beaches at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, United States. This is being celebrated today in Linköping, which is known as the birthplace of aviation in Sweden. This is where "the aviation baron" Carl Cederström opened a school of aviation at Malmslätt in 1912, and where the first aircraft were developed by the Swedish Air Force's Central Workshop (CVA) in Malmen. Svenska Aeroplanaktiebolaget (Saab) began operating at the end of the 1930s, and since then has based its development and production of military and commercial aircraft in Linköping, up to today's JAS 39 Gripen - the world's first fourth generation fighter in operation. As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations, Linköping local authority, the Swedish Air Force Museum and Saab together want to demonstrate how important the link between the local authority, industry and Sweden's aviation history is for the region. "Aviation is one of Linköping's and therefore the fourth city region's foremost competencies. The knowledge amassed over the years is envied by many all over the world. Billions and billions are invested in other parts of the world to achieve this," says Eva Joelsson, the Mayor of Linköping City. "This is why we are celebrating 100 years of flight in Linköping and it feels natural to team up with Saab and the Swedish Air Force Museum, which represent history and the future in different ways." Several aircraft are being displayed on large stands along the E4 European Highway outside of Linköping as part of the celebrations. In addition, a Gripen simulator is being inaugurated at the Swedish Air Force Museum, where the general public will be able to test their skills. The simulator has been developed by Saab Aerosystems, and is the result of the gift presented to the Swedish Air Force on its 75-year anniversary in 2001. The Air Force decided to install it at the Air Force Museum in Linköping. The Gripen simulator is being presented to the museum today by the Commander of the Swedish Air Force, Jan Andersson, and will be inaugurated in the presence of His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. For further information please contact: Sven Scheiderbauer, Swedish Air Force Museum, +46 (0)13-28 35 64 Eva Joelsson, Mayor of Linköping City, +46 (0)705-42 29 13 Heidi Wendt, Communications Director, Saab Aerosystems, +46 (0)734-18 00 17 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/12/17/20031217BIT00240/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/12/17/20031217BIT00240/wkr0002.pdf