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Aero celebrates 90 years

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

February 26, 2009

thomas

Today, Aero Vodochody, the largest Czech aerospace manufacturer, celebrates 90 years since its foundation – on February 25, 1919, Aero was registered in the commercial register. “90 years on the aerospace market ranks us among the oldest aerospace manufacturers worldwide. Today, we belong to well-established suppliers, reflecting modern trends in the aerospace industry and providing our customers with first-class services,” Igor Hulak, president of Aero Vodochody, comments the company’s anniversary.
Since its foundation, Aero has focused on aircraft production, aerostructures and also aircraft repairs. As early as in 1919, the year of the foundation, Aero developed and carried out the first flight of its first in-house designed type – the Aero A-1 aircraft. Orders followed from the ministry of defence for the serial production of this military type and Aero soon became the main supplier to the ministry of defence and the ministry of public works (responsible for commercial aviation). Aero also equipped the national Czech Airlines with highly reliable aircraft.
Since its foundation, Aero has produced more than 11.000 aircraft. Military as well as commercial types, subsonic as well as supersonic, in-house designed as well as license-produced aircraft and helicopters, delivered worldwide. Today, Aero utilizes the experience from development, production and support of military and commercial aircraft in international aerostructures projects, cooperating with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (S-76C helicopter), Alenia Aeronautica (C-27J Spartan center wing box), Latecoere (Embraer 170/190 subassemblies), Saab (JAS-39 Gripen pylons), Spirit Aerosystems (B767 fixed leading edge kits), EADS (A320/340 subassemblies), etc. Such projects represent today, besides the traditional military program, committed to long-term support of the Czech Air Force, the main priority of Aero.
“Today, Aero is a strong, stable and self-confident company, fully focusing on its strategic aim: to build a new international aerospace holding in the CEE region. Currently, we are in the second phase of negotiations on the privatization of the Polish helicopter manufacturer PZL Swidnik. Together with this company we will become stronger and more competitive especially on the market of aerostructures,” adds President Hulak.

Aero History Timeline
1919 Aero founded in Prague
1919 A-1, first in-house designed military training aircraft
1921 A-10, first in-house designed civil airliner
1923 A-11 family of successful military biplanes (bomber and reconnaissance)
1925 De Havilland DH-50 airliner produced under British license
1929 A-34 “Blackbird”, first of sport and training light biplanes family
1932 A-100 family, military biplane (bomber and reconnaissance)
1937 MB-200 all-metal bomber produced under French license (Marcel Bloch)
1938 A-304 twin-engine low wing military aircraft
1938 A-300 twin-engine low wing bomber
1939 C4/C-104 (Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann) training and aerobatic biplane
1943 C-3 (Siebel Si-204D) twin-engine military aircraft
1947 Ae-45 twin-engine civil aircraft
1953 Aero moved from Prague to new facilities in Vodochody
1954 Maiden flight of first MiG-15 jet fighter built under Soviet license (3,405 aircraft delivered 1954-1962)
1958 Maiden flight of MiG-19 supersonic fighter built by Aero under Soviet license (103 aircraft delivered 1958-1962)
1959 Maiden flight of L-29 Delfin (Dolphin), first in-house designed jet trainer (3,500 aircraft delivered 1963-1974)
1962 Maiden flight of MiG-21 supersonic fighter built by Aero under Soviet license (194 aircraft delivered 1962-1972)
1968 Maiden flight of L-39 Albatros jet trainer (more than 2,900 aircraft delivered 1971-1999)
1986 Maiden flight of L-39MS jet trainer, for export designated L-59 Super Albatros (60 aircraft delivered 1992-1996)
1997 Maiden flight of L-159 advanced light combat aircraft (72 aircraft delivered to Czech Air Force)
1998 Boeing becomes strategic partner of Aero
2000 Maiden flight of Ae 270 civil utility aircraft
2000 Production of S-76 helicopter for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation launched
2001 Production of F/A-18 gun bay door for Boeing St. Louis launched
2001 Production of Boeing 767 fixed leading edges kits started for BAE SYSTEMS (today Spirit AeroSystems)
2002 Maiden flight of L-159B advanced trainer
2004 Delivery of L-159 aircraft to Czech Air Force completed
2004 Boeing ceased to be strategic partner of Aero
2005 Aero signed a long-term agreement on Czech Air Force L-159 fleet follow-on support
2007 Private equity group Penta becomes the sole shareholder of Aero
2007 L-159T1 advanced trainers delivered to Czech Air Force
2007 Acquisition of Rotortech Composites Ltd. is carried out by Penta
2007 Production of C-27J Spartan center wing box for Alenia Aeronautica launched
2008 Production of Embraer 170/190 door subassemblies for Latecoere launched
2008 Production JAS-39 Gripen pylons for Saab launched

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