Established in 1947 in Trieste, initially manufactured series of gliders and sailplanes of various types under licence, turning to powered aircraft in 1953 when company acquired the assets of Francis Lombardi & Cie of Vercelli, further developing FL.3 light aircraft, FL.53 two-seater, three-seat FL.54, and FL.55 four-seater. Own 110 hp Alfa 2 and 220 hp Alfa 4 engines powered two-seat Meteor Bis and four-seat Meteor Super.
In 1960 Meteor diversified into unmanned drones. These serving as the basis of the Sky Arrow.
In 1985 Meteor changed its name to Iniziative Industriali Italiane.
Manufacturer
Metal Work SNC
1998:
Via Trento 33
I-20017 Passirana di Rho (Mi)
Italy
Light engine builder
Métallerie Jacques Chapelet
1998:
Zl de l’Hérette
F-44810 Heric
France
Trike builder
Messerschmitt Flugzeugbau GmbH / Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW)
Founded by Willi Messerschmitt at Bamberg in 1923 as Messerschmitt Flugzeugbau and became GmbH April 28,1926.
It was in Augsburg that on 30 July 1926, the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) was incorporated and established itself in the former Rumperwerke factory.
S-16 powered glider flown 1924; M-18 three-passenger, single-engined airliners built for Nordbayerische Verkehrsflug AG and others 1925. Developed into M-20 and M-20b built for Lufthansa 1928. Highly successful M-23 two-seat sporting monoplane introduced 1929.
A number of crashes led Lufthansa to refuse to accept any more M20s, which resulted in the Messerschmitt company, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) going bankrupt on 1 June 1931. An agreement was reached with all creditors in December 1932 and on 1 May 1933 the BFW AG was able to start a new career. Renamed Messerschmitt AG 11 July 1938.
Messerschmitt airplanes are variously coded with the letters Bf and Me; they refer to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke and Messerschmitt AG, respectively firm names under which he did business. The Bf designation was dropped in 1938, but designs executed before that time properly carry the prefix Bf.
After being renamed in 1938 continued production of BFW’s Bf 108 and of Bf 109 fighter, Bf 110 twin-engined long-range fighter. Rocket-powered Me 163 fighter first flown August 1941, and first of Me 262 twin-jet fighters on 18 July 1942. Bf 110 developed into Me 210 fighter-bomber first flown September 2,1939, built up to 1944, and reengined Me 410, which made maiden flight in late 1942. Me 321 Gigant troop carrier/cargo glider (54.68m wingspan) introduced 1941; 175 built together with 201 of Me 323 powered version with six Gnome- Rhone radial engines.
Reconstituted postwar company formed Flugzeug-Union Sud with Heinkel in August 1956, building Fouga Magister under license and later taking part in programs for Fiat G.91, Lockheed F-104G, Transall C.160 and Bell UH-1D.
Amalgamated with Bolkow as Messerschmitt Bolkow GmbH 1968 and then with Hamburger Flugzeugbau to form Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm 14 May 1969.
Merville
France
Propeller manufacturer established in 1919, began aircraft production 1959 with SM.30 single-seat sailplane; improved SM.31 prototype flown January 11,1960. Also developed D.63 two-seat light aircraft based on Druine Condor, first flown March 23,1962, with tricycle landing gear and Potez 4 E-20 engine.
Merlin Aircraft Inc
Made kits available to construct the Merlin GT-582 two-seat monoplane, originally developed in Canada as the Macair Merlin.
1996: 509 Airport Rd, Muskegon, MI 49441, USA.
The company closed due to financial difficulty.
The designs were being produced by Blue Yonder Aviation, Inc., and one is also available from AeroComp Inc.
Merkel
1980: Merkel Airplane Co, 3920 North Charles St, Wichita, KS 67204, USA. Built the Merkel Mark II aerobatic biplane
Meridionali-Aerfer Spa
Meridionali-Aerfer Spa succeeded Societa Aninima Industrie Aeronautiche Romeo, which had been formed in 1934 to absorb Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali’s aviation activities. Became part of Societa Italiana Ernesto Breda group. Developed Ro.37 two-seat reconnaissance biplane which served October 1936 with Italian Aviacion Legionaria during Spanish Civil War and equipped Italian Air Force reconnaissance units during Second World War. Also used operationally were Ro.43 two-seat, single-float catapult seaplane and single-seat fighter version, Ro.44.
Mercury Aircraft Inc
USA
Formed at Menominee, Michigan, developed B-100 four seat cabin monoplane with Allied Monsoon (license-built Regnier) engine, and BT-120 two-seat trainer biplane suitable for engines of 95-150 hp.
Merckle Flugzeugwerke GmbH
Established at Oedheim in 1960, and acquired from Dr. Winter of Brunswick Technical College license to build Kiebitz two-seat STOL monoplane. In 1956 began development of SM-67 Turbomeca Artouste-powered five-seat helicopter, initially as private venture and later to government contract.
Merckle joined Dornier in 1969.
All Aero 