Originally founded as Aero Tovarna Letadel (Aero Aircraft Manufacturing Company) a year after Czechoslovakia gained independence, in 1953 Aero built a new factory expressly for jet aircraft at Vodochody and named "Aero Vodochody Narodni Podnik". Although normally just called "Aero", since being privatized in 1990, it has come to be most often referred to as "Aero Vodochody".
Since the Antonov Aeronautical Scientific/Technical Complex (Antonov ASTC) (OKB-153) had been moved to Kiev in 1952, it became a Ukrainian company upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.
A noted early biplane fighter designer, it was acquired by Škoda Works in 1928. After WWII, Avia was nationalized and continued producing aircraft only until 1963.
Founded in 1972 as Intreprinderea de Avioance Craiova (Craiova Aircraft Enterprise), in 1991 IAv Craiova was renamed "Avioane" ("S.C. Avioane S.A. Craiova").
Established independently the same year as Messerschmitt, the Bavarian government forced the two companies to merge in 1927. In 1938, BFW's name was changed to "Messerschmitt AG"; aircraft projects begun before that time had the 'Bf' prefix and those after 'Me' (hence "Bf 109" is correct, not "Me-109"). (See the "Messerschmitt" entry for subsequent history.)
Originally known as the "Beriev Design Bureau" (OKB-49), it underwent privatization as the Beriev Aircraft Corporation in the post-Soviet era, and is now intended to be merged into the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) super-conglomerate (also known by its Russian acronym "OAK") in 2007.
B+V formed an aircraft subsidiary in 1933, Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB); in 1937 it was renamed "Blohm & Voss, Abt. Flugzeugbau" (Blohm & Voss Aircraft Building Division). It went defunct in 1945, but would be reestablished in 1954 as HFB, which would be acquired by Messerschmitt-Bölkow to become Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm (MBB).
In 1978 the Grupul de Aviatie Bucuresti (GAB) (Bucharest Aviation Group) was redesignated the Centrul National al Industriei Aeronautice Române (CNIAR) (National Center of the Romanian Aeronautical Industry), which would assume responsibility for the design and development of the IAR-93 with the Yugoslav company SOKO (as the SOKO J-22 Orao); responsibility for the program was taken over by IAv Craiova in 1991.
Formally the "Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation" but popularly known as "Convair", it was created by the 1943 merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft. Sold to General Dynamics in 1953, which continued to use the brand name until aircraft production was consolidated at Fort Worth in 1965 and the "General Dynamics" brand supplanted it.
The 1995 renaming of Deutsche Aerospace (although retaining the DASA nickname). Following the 1998 merger of Daimler Benz and the Chrysler Corporation, the company was renamed "DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG", and in 2000 became part of EADS (as "EADS Germany").
Following the 1998 merger of Daimler Benz and the Chrysler Corporation, DASA was renamed "DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG"; in 2000 it became part of EADS (as "EADS Germany").
In 1989, Daimler-Benz formed Deutsche Aerospace AG through merging its aerospace interests, chiefly Dornier and Motoren- und Turbinen-Union (MTU). At the end of that year, Deutsche Aerospace absorbed Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB). At the beginning of 1995 the company changed its name to “Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG” (although continuing to use the DASA nickname); following the 1998 merger of Daimler Benz and the Chrysler Corporation, the company was renamed “DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG”. DASA became a part of EADS (as “EADS Germany”) in 2000.
Originally named "Dornier Metallbau". Dornier spun off FFA in 1948, but reacquired it in 1987. Fairchild Aircraft acquired Dornier in 1996, forming "Fairchild Dornier"; this company became insolvent in early 2002.
Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein AG (FFA) was spun off from Dornier in 1948. Although it received a contract for 100 of its P-16 fighters, the crash of its second prototype resulted in the order’s cancellation. FFA was reacquired by Dornier in 1987.
Founded as Fieseler Flugzeugbau, its official name was changed to "Gerhard Fieseler Werke" in 1939, although it continued to be popularly referred to as just "Fieseler". Defunct in 1945, its Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch" continued to be produced in France and Czechoslovakia after the war.
Founded as Bremer Flugzeugbau AG, it was quickly renamed "Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG". While most famous for its Fw 190 fighter, it also developed the first successful helicopter, the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 (or Fa 61). Closed at the end of WWII, Focke-Wulf would be revived in 1951 as a manufacturer of gliders and trainers, until it merged with Weserflug in 1964, becoming Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW).
GD, which had itself been formed the year before acquired Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in 1953; aircraft production was consolidated at Fort Worth in 1965 and the "General Dynamics" brand replaced that of "Convair" for its fighters. Sold to the Lockheed Corporation in 1993.
Better known for their locomotives, Henschel & Sohn entered the defense industry in the early 1930s, becoming a producer of tanks, aircraft and missiles. Most of its defense factories had been destroyed by the end of WWII in 1945.
Finland’s Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas (Air Force Aircraft Factory) was established in 1921, and in 1928 was renamed “Valtion Lentokonetehdas” (VL) (State Aircraft Factory).
Originally known as the "Ilyushin Design Bureau" (OKB-156), it is now intended to be merged into the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) super-conglomerate (also known by its Russian acronym "OAK") in 2007.
Dissolved in 1945 after the end of WWII, it was reconstituted as "ICA-Braşov" in 1968 to resume producing aircraft, beginning with the IAR-93 (in the YUROM joint venture with SOKO of Yugoslavia). In 1991 it was renamed "IAR SA".
Originally established in 1953 as the Bedek Aviation Company, it became "Israel Aircraft Industries" in 1960 (with the Bedek brand being applied to IAI's aircraft maintenance division); IAI was renamed "Israel Aerospace Industries" in 2006.
Famous as the developer of the first all-metal fuselage aircraft (Junkers J1), the Ju-52 "Tante Ju" and Ju 87 Stuka. At the end of WWII, most of Junkers' assets ended up in East Germany; what was left in West Germany was reconstituted as "Junkers GmbH" in 1956 and absorbed into Messerschmitt in 1965.
Kawasaki’s Aircraft Department in 1918 and delivered its first aircraft in 1922; in 1937 it was spun off as Kawasaki Aircraft Co., Ltd. In 1969 it was merged with Kawasaki’s Dockyard and Rolling Stock Manufacturing divisions to form Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
After the failure of the LaGG-1 and LaGG-3, Goudkov left the team, and Vladimir Gorbunov's name would be dropped later in 1942, with the "LaG-5" becoming the "La-5".
In 1936 Škoda Works began building a factory in Kunovice to repair aircraft built by Avia; in 1950, it was nationalized as the LET Aeronautical Works and a new factory had been built by 1953. In 2001 it was acquired by Moravan Aeroplanes following a declaration of bankruptcy; however, it went into receivership again in 2004 and while work continues, a new owner is being sought.
Established independently the same year as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW), the Bavarian government forced the two companies to merge in 1927. In 1938, BFW's name was changed to "Messerschmitt AG"; aircraft projects begun before that time had the 'Bf' prefix and those after 'Me' (hence "Bf 109" is correct, not "Me-109"). In 1965, Messerschmitt bought the remnants of Junkers; in 1968 it acquired Bölkow to form Messerschmitt-Bölkow, and in 1969 added Hamburger Flugzeugbau (the aviation subsidiary of Blohm + Voss) to form Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm (MBB); MBB would itself be taken over by Daimler-Benz to form Deutsche Aerospace AG (DASA) in 1989.
Originally established in 1939 as the "Mikoyan Experimental Design Bureau", in 1942 it was redesignated the "Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau" (OKB-155); upon the death of Artem Mikoyanin 1970, the bureau was renamed "Mikoyan", dropping the surname of Mikhail Gurevich.
Originally established in 1939 as the "Mikoyan Experimental Design Bureau", in 1942 it became the the "Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau" (OKB-155); upon the death of Artem Mikoyanin 1970, the bureau was renamed "Mikoyan", dropping "Gurevich" but retaining the designator "MiG". In the post-Soviet era it underwent privatization as the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RAC MiG) (also known by its Russian acronym "RSK-MiG"), and is now intended to be merged into the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) super-conglomerate (also known by its Russian acronym "OAK") in 2007.
Originating in 1924 as the Zlín Air Company, a glider-building firm in the Moravian town of Zlín. In 1933, the factory was moved to Otrokovice (in the Zlín District) where it would it began to build powered Zlín gliders as Masarykova Letecká Liga (Masaryk League of Aviation); in 1934 it was refounded and renamed "Zlinská Letecká Akciová Spolecnost" (Zlin Aviation Co., Ltd.). In 1949, the firm would be renamed "Moravan Národni Podnik" (Moravan National Corporation) (a.k.a. "Moravan Otrokovice"), although it would continue to use the Zlín name for its family of aircraft. In 1961 it was renamed "Moravan Aeroplanes a.s.", and in 2007 the name of the company was again changed to "Moravan Aviation s.r.o." (Moravan Aviation Ltd.). In 2001, Moravan acquired the bankrupt Let Kunovice.
Japan’s first aircraft manufacturer, it was originally called "The Aircraft Research Laboratory", and was renamed the 'Nakajima Aircraft Company" in 1931; after WWII, it was reborn in 1946 as Fuji Sangyo Co., Ltd. (a motor scooter company), which in 1953 became part of Fuji Heavy Industries.
A consortia of Japan’s aerospace companies organized to develop an indigenous airliner, the YS-11, which also found its way into military service. NAMC disbanded in 1983.
Originally formed in 1941 as the "PV Engineering Forum" and incorporated in 1943, it was renamed the "Piasecki Helicopter Corporation" in 1946. In 1956 it was renamed "Vertol Aircraft Corporation", and in 1960 it became Boeing Vertol (and Boeing Helicopters in 1987).
A noted Swiss builder of trainers and utility transports, it bought Britten-Norman in 1979, resulting in the latter’s popular BN-2 Islander/Defender aircraft being marketed under the "Pilatus Britten-Norman" brand until the Britten-Norman unit was sold once more in 1998.
Renaming of North American Rockwell in 1973 upon its merger with Rockwell Manufacturing; North American Rockwell had been North American Aviation (NAA) until 1967. Rockwell sold its defense divisions to Boeing in 1996.
Saab was established in 1937 as "Svenska Aeroplan AB," whence the acronym 'SAAB'. (This is the same incorporation name used earlier by Svenska Aero until it was bought out by ASJA in 1932.) SAAB acquired Sparmann in 1938, and in 1939 it also absorbed the ASJA. In 1965, the company’s name was changed to "Saab Aktiebolag" (Saab AB), and then in 1969 to "Saab-Scania" (until that merger was undone in 1995). Malmö Flygindustri (MFI), a builder of trainers, was picked up in 1968. In 1997, SAAB Aircraft and SAAB Military Aircraft were merged as the Aeronautics division of Saab AB.
The Kawanishi Aircraft Company was changed to "Shin Meiwa Industry Co., Ltd." in 1949, and would be renamed again in 1960 to "ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd."
In 1943 the British government forced a merger of the Short Brothers with Short and Harland to form "Short Brothers and Harland Ltd."; the name reverted to "Short Brothers Ltd." in 1977, and then was changed in 1987 to "Short Bros. plc." "Shorts" was acquired by Bombardier of Canada in 1989.
Originally known as Flugzeugbau Halle; ending up in the Soviet occupation zone after WWII, the factory was dismantled and moved to Podberesje, north of Moscow, to further develop the DFS 346. Siebel was reestablished in West Germany in 1948, and in 1952 merged with Allgemeine-Transport-Anlagen (ATG) to form Siebelwerke-ATG GmbH (SIAT). In 1956 Siebel formed Flugzeugbau Nord GmbH as a partnership with Hamburger Flugzeugbau and Weserflug Flugzeugbau and to license-build the Nord Noratlas. In 1972 SIAT was acquired by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB).
Founded as Vazduhoplovna Industrija SOKO DD, one of its most noted products was the SOKO J-22 Orao, designed jointly with Romania’s CNIAR (as the IAR-93). SOKO’s main factory at Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was destroyed during the civil war in 1991, and the following year its remaining assets were merged into UTVA.
Originally known as the "Sukhoi Design Bureau" (OKB-51), it underwent privatization as the Sukhoi Corporation in the post-Soviet era, and is now intended to be merged into the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) super-conglomerate (also known by its Russian acronym "OAK") in 2007.
Originally known as the "Tupolev Design Bureau" (OKB-156), it became a public stock company in the post-Soviet era, and is now intended to be merged into the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) super-conglomerate (also known by its Russian acronym "OAK") in 2007.
Founded in 1937 as the Jadralno društvo Utva-Zemun glider club, it began manufacturing aircraft as the Fabrika Aviona UTVA-Beograd in 1939, and the next year established a larger factory at Pančevo which became known as "Fabrika Aviona UTVA-Pančevo". Its aircraft-building operations became defunct during WWII, but it was reestablished as Fabrika Aviona UTVA in 1952; it was further renamed "UTVA-Sour Metalne Industrije ro Fabrika Aviona" in 1983. In 1992, UTVA absorbed those assets of SOKO that survived the civil war, and in 1996 UTVA was merged with the Lola factory to become "Lola-Utva". The factory was severely damaged during the NATO airstrikes in 1999, but it has since returned to operation as "Utva Aircraft Industry".
In 1951, the former Valtion Metallitehtaat Lentokonetehdas (VMT) (State Metal Factories) was renamed "Valmet OY Lentokonetehdas" (Valmet Aircraft Factory); in 1974 the Valmet Aircraft Factory would be officially renamed "Valmet Lentokonetehtaan" (Valmet Aviation Industries). The name would again be changed in 1989 to "Valmet Lentokoneteollisuus" (Valmet Aircraft Industries), and in 1996 to "Patria Finavitec Oy".
Finland’s Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas (Air Force Aircraft Factory) was renamed "Valtion Lentokonetehdas" (VL) (State Aircraft Factory) in 1928. In 1945, at the end of WWII, Valtion and other state-owned enterprises were merged into Valtion Metallitehtaat Lentokonetehdas (VMT) (State Metal Factories), but no new aircraft designs would be produced until 1951, when VMT would be renamed "Valmet OY Lentokonetehdas" (Valmet Aircraft Factory).
Originally known as the "Tupolev Design Bureau" (OKB-115), it underwent privatization as the Yak Aircraft Corporation in the post-Soviet era, and is now intended to be merged into the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) super-conglomerate (also known by its Russian acronym "OAK") in 2007.
In 1924, Tomáš Baťa established the Zlín Air Company, a glider-building subsidiary of his shoe-manufacturing business, in the Moravian town of Zlín; following his death in an air crash in 1932, the factory was moved to Otrokovice (in the Zlín District) in 1933 where it would be permitted to build powered gliders; there it began building Zlín gliders as Masarykova Letecká Liga (Masaryk League of Aviation), but it was refounded and renamed Zlinská Letecká Akciová Spolecnost (Zlin Aviation Co., Ltd.) in 1934. Although Zlín aircraft were popular for training, it is unclear whether the interwar Czechoslovak air force ever purchased any. In 1949, the firm would be renamed Moravan Narodni Podnik (Moravan National Corporation) (a.k.a. "Moravan Otrokovice"), although it would continue to use the Zlín name for its family of aircraft, and deliveries of Zlín trainers to a number of air forces began at this time.
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