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 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
Ministry of Defence. 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, primarily based on
wind tunnel 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==