The museum was previously known as Vesivehmaan varastohalli (the Vesivehmaa storage hall).
In 1948, the Finnish Air Force began separating and storing some of the aircraft that had been taken out of service.
The aircraft were stored in hangar 4 on former World War II air force base of Vesivehmaa (presently known as Lahti-Vesivehmaa airport, EFLA).
By the end of the 1940s, many of the World War II-era aircraft were sold as scrap.
The museum is run by "Lahden ilmasilta" (LIS), a guild association, which was founded on 15 November 1962.