Manufacturer

Volvo Aero

TerryLeave a comment

Volvo Aero
Nohab Flygmotorfabriker AB
Svenska Flygmotor AB

Nohab Flygmotorfabriker AB was founded in Trollhättan, Sweden, in 1930 to produce aircraft engines for the Swedish Board of Aviation. As the name of the company indicates it was a subsidiary to NOHAB. In 1937 it became a part of the newly founded SAAB but already in 1941 Volvo acquired a majority of the stock and the name was changed to Svenska Flygmotor AB (SFA), and later on Volvo Flygmotor.

Since the 1950s the company have been the major engine supplier to the Swedish Air Force. The Volvo Aero Group has 3,600 employees and in 2003 had total sales of 0.9 billion euros. Today Volvo Aero is a partner in more than ten commercial engine programmes. Components from Volvo Aero are installed in more than 90% of all large commercial aircraft engines sold.

On 6 July 2012 Volvo Aero was acquired by the British aerospace manufacturer GKN in a SEK 6.9 billion deal.

Volvo Aero was a supplier of single-engine systems for military aircraft. These have largely been in partnership with other engine manufacturers, such as the RM1 (de Havilland Goblin) for the Saab 21R, RM2 (de Havilland Ghost) for the Saab J29, RM5 and RM6 (Rolls-Royce Avon) for the Saab 32 Lansen, the RM6B for the Saab 35 Draken, and the RM8 (Pratt & Whitney JT8D) for the Saab 37 Viggen. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen’s RM12 engine is a derivative of the General Electric F404.

Svenska Flygmotor also designed the B42, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, intended for the SAAB Safir. However, SAAB decided on using engines from de Havilland and Lycoming for the Safir. In the end the B42 came to power the Infanterikanonvagn 103 assault gun. A follow-up called B44 powered the Pansarbandvagn 301 armoured personnel carrier.

Volvo Aero delivered engine components, mainly complex engine structures like turbine exhaust casings, turbine mid frames, LPT cases, compressor housings, LPT shafts, vanes, and large rotating parts.

Volvo Aero also had a facility in Trollhättan where they did maintenance on aircraft engines and stationary gas turbines. The aircraft engines are Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 and TFE-731 engines. The Stationary gas turbines is General Electric LM1600 engine, and the DR990, which Volvo bought the OEM responsibility from Dresser Rand.

Volvo Aero manufactured combustion chambers, nozzles and turbines for commercial launch vehicles.

The company have produced the F-series hydraulic motors under the Volvo Flygmotor and VOAC brands.

Volvo Aero subsidiaries were located in the United States and Norway, in addition to Volvo’s home country, Sweden. The Norwegian plant, in Kongsberg, is the former Norsk Jetmotor, itself formerly a part of Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk.

Volpar

TerryLeave a comment

Volpar Inc formed in 1960, Volpar marketed tricycle landing- gear kit for Beechcraft Model 18. Following merger with Volitan Aviation Inc, kits produced to convert Model 18 to turboprop power, designated Turbo 18. Lengthened-fuselage versions followed, Turboliner and Turboliner II; then came ‘Packaged Power’ units for Beech 18, de Havilland Dove and Beaver, Grumman Goose. Larger premises acquired February 1975 to increase production of Turboliner II.

From 1976 collaborated with Century Aircraft Corporation in producing turboprop conversions for Handley Page Jetstream. Produced programs to upgrade T-33 as T-33V and Falcon 20 as PW300-F20. As Volpar Aircraft Corporation, was acquired by Gaylord Holdings of Switzerland 1990.

Volkseigener Betrieb

TerryLeave a comment

East German State aircraft factory; enjoyed brief existence in 1950s, with plants at Pirna/Elbe (Entwicklungsbau Pirna) and Dresden/Klotzsche. Established 1954 to license-build Soviet llyushin IL-14 twin-engined passenger transport and a variety of gliders. In 1956 was selected to develop BB-152 four-jet, swept-wing civil transport (Pirna turbojets), originally joint project from Prof Dipl Ing Brunolf Baade (deputy director of VEB) and Soviet designer Dr Bronin. Three twin-jet prototypes developed as Type 150 at Podberezje in USSR, themselves derived from Junkers Ju 287 bomber. Twenty-two BB-152s laid down, but only five prototypes completed; first flight in December 1960. Program was closed down and state aircraft manufacture in East Germany ended in 1961.

Volaire

TerryLeave a comment

Volaircraft Inc
Founder: Jack Gilberti,
Aliquippa PA.
USA

Only product was Volaire Model 10, certificated 1961. Limited production at Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, as Model 1050 four-seat high-wing monoplane before, on 12 July 1965, becoming a division of Aero Commander Inc; aircraft renamed Aero Commander 100.

Voisin Bros

TerryLeave a comment
Charles and Gabriel Voisin – July 1905

In July 1905 the world’s first company to build aeroplanes, Ateliers d’Aviation Edouard Surcouf, Bleriot et Voisin, was formed by brothers Gabriel and Charles Voisin assisted by Ernest Archdeacon and Louis Bleriot.
On 5 November 1906 the brothers Gabriel (1880-1973) and Charles (1888-1912) formed their own manufacturing firm, Appareils d’Aviation Les Freres Voisin, at the same location in a hanger at Rue de la Ferme, Billancourt, Paris. Dominant partner was Gabriel, one of aviation’s earliest pioneers built gliders (with varying success) for Archdeacon, Bleriot and others from 1904.

Gabriel Voisin Article

When Bleriot formed his own company in February 1907 the AA Les Freres Voisin was formed in new premises at Lyons, and from spring 1907 began building series of boxkite biplanes (Hargrave-based) for Delagrange, Paulhan, Farman, Moore-Brabazon, and others; by end of 1909 had built nearly 20, though by then this type had been separately much improved by Henry Farman.

First “gunbus” biplane appeared 1910, a canard oddity in 1911, and the large Icare seaplane in 1913; but Voisin chiefly known for extensive series of successful military bombers of 1914-1918. Primitive but strong, these Voisin “chickencoops” appeared in many variants, principal being Types 3,4,5,8, and 10 of which, collectively, nearly 3,400 were built. Although reliable, their design had progressed little by 1918, and in 1919 Gabriel Voisin left the aviation industry and subsequently entered the automobile industry.

In 1945 G&R owned a factory of the Aéroplanes Voisin firm, which had gone bankrupt in 1938.