AEKKEA-RAAB
| Company type | public limited company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1935 |
| Founder | Antonius Raab, Apostolos Agnidis, Konstantinos Bitzios and Georgios Sarigiannis, |
| Defunct | 1951 |
| Headquarters | (1935-1936 Piraeus) (1937 Phaleron), |
| Owner | Antonius Raab |
The narrative of AEKKEA (Anonymos Etaireia Kataskevis Kai Ekmetallefseos Aeroplanon - Societe Anonyme Pour la Fabrication et l'Exploitation des Avions Raab), a Greek aircraft manufacturer, is closely linked to the career of the skilled German aircraft engineer Antonius Raab (whose first name appears as Antonios in Greek and Antonio in Spanish following his work in Spain).
Formation
Antonius Raab initially co-established the German aircraft firm Raab-Katzenstein. Due to his strong opposition to the Nazi regime, he was compelled to leave Germany. After unsuccessful attempts to launch his enterprise in Estonia and Latvia, he arrived in Greece in 1935 with backing from a senior Air Force officer (Gen. P. Gazis). Supported by this connection, Raab and his Greek associates founded AEKKEA, an acronym for "Anonymos Etaireia Kataskevis Kai Ekmetallefseos Aeroplanon" or, in French—the prevalent international language in Greece at that time—"Societe Anonyme Pour la Fabrication et l'Exploitation des Avions Raab". The firm was officially incorporated on October 20, 1935, by Antonius Raab alongside Apostolos Agnidis, Konstantinos Bitzios, and Georgios Sarigiannis. Initially headquartered in Piraeus, the company relocated its base to nearby Phaleron in 1937. Manufacturing was first carried out by the defense contractor Pyrkal until AEKKEA inaugurated its own plant in Moschato during 1937.
Initial operations
AEKKEA’s workforce included Greek employees such as management personnel and engineers—most notably Greece’s prominent aircraft engineer Georgios Pangakis—along with several German technicians who had accompanied Raab to Greece. The company’s earliest planned models were either direct continuations or derivatives of designs from Raab’s former enterprise. These included the Pelikan trainer and touring aircraft, the single-seat fighter R-27, as well as the multi-purpose military planes Schwalbe (I/II) and Tigerschwalbe IV. The first construction project involved upgrading an existing Raab-Katzenstein Schwalbe Kl 1c to a Schwalbe II, while at least one fully assembled Schwalbe II was also produced. Apart from the Schwalbe series—and possibly the Pelikan—there is no confirmed production of other specific models, although the company retained design ownership and manufacturing rights. The initial contract secured by AEKKEA came from Austria, involving two Schwalbe and two Tigerschwalbe units, which were manufactured under license by Pintsch in Vienna. No subsequent orders originated from Austria due to pressure exerted by Germany. At least one Schwalbe II served within the Austrian Air Force prior to Austria’s annexation by Germany. Additionally, the government of Turkey showed some interest in acquiring the Schwalbe.
Design and manufacture of new aircraft models; transactions with Spain
In 1936, the design team of Raab's Greek enterprise developed several new aircraft models, including the military R-29 and Tigerschwalbe R-26V/33, as well as the R-52 bomber and transport aircraft. The first two models were intended for production to support the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, which Raab endorsed, whereas the R-52 likely remained at the conceptual stage. During this era, Raab navigated the challenges posed by restrictions on shipments to Spain due to the non-intervention agreement; to facilitate operations, a commercial branch of the Greek firm was established in Paris, along with a subsidiary in Spain. The primary and more intricate components and equipment for these planes were manufactured in Athens, with portions of the construction carried out by Pyrkal and utilizing equipment from KEA. Locals in Moschato recalled witnessing numerous trucks loaded with aircraft parts departing the factory en route to ports bound for Spain, while others expressed grievances over persistent noise from engine testing at the facility. Upon arrival in Spain, assembly and installation of specific elements took place under Raab's oversight within a repurposed textile factory located in Sabadell. Some accounts suggest that several aircraft were transported from Greece nearly complete, requiring only engine installation and armament fitting. Raab reported that approximately 60 planes (split evenly between the two types) were nearly finished before being dispatched along with blueprints to the USSR. Subsequently, Raab was detained on accusations of espionage for Germany but managed to flee and returned to Greece by 1938.
Pre-WWII operations and company closure
AEKKEA manufactured numerous gliders based on adapted German designs (including Gruene Post, Grunau Baby, and Zoegling models), which were marketed and utilized domestically. Additionally, the company produced a substantial quantity of spare parts for various aircraft alongside specialized equipment for Greek military forces, some of which were exported. A proposal to supply aircraft to the Greek Air Force was declined, with official statements citing that AEKKEA models did not meet required standards; however, this refusal was likely influenced more by political factors than technical deficiencies. Despite this setback, one aircraft—likely a Schwalbe—was under construction for a Greek client when Germany invaded, resulting in factory closure. This incomplete plane remained visible at the factory site for years following the war’s conclusion. During the German occupation, Raab fled Greece and eventually arrived in India, where he established a short-lived aircraft manufacturing operation that produced two gliders.
In 1948, Raab was deported back to Europe, residing in Germany and Italy until 1985. The company AEKKEA was officially dissolved in 1951.
Aircraft produced by AEKKEA
- AEKKEA-RAAB R-52 (1936 twin-engine bomber and/or transport) (Concept)
- AEKKEA-RAAB R-33 Tigerschwalbe (1936 trainer and light fighter) (Concept)
- AEKKEA-RAAB R-29 (1936 single-seat parasol-wing monoplane designed for training and/or light combat)
- AEKKEA-RAAB R-28 (light-fighter monoplane featuring a high-wing cantilever design)
- AEKKEA-RAAB R-27 (1935 low-wing monoplane fighter, evolved from the Raab-Katzenstein RK-25)
- AEKKEA-RAAB R-26V (1937 two-seat aircraft serving as trainer and light fighter)
- AEKKEA-RAAB R-1C Schwalbe II (1935 tandem two-seat biplane trainer)
References
Bibliography
- L.S. Skartsis and G.A. Avramidis, "Made in Greece", Typorama, Patras, Greece (2003).
- L.S. Skartsis, "Greek Vehicle & Machine Manufacturers 1800 to present: A Pictorial History", Marathon (2012) ISBN 978-960-93-4452-4 (eBook)
- Jane’s "All the World’s Aircraft" (1936-1937 edition)
- Antonius Raab, "Raab Fliegt (Erinnerungen eines Flugpioniers)", Reihe Konkret, Hamburg (1984).
- Archives of the Greek Civil Aviation Authority
- "Oikonomikos Tachydromos" magazine, October 20, 1935 issue (AEKKEA foundation)
- Pages with broken file links
- Aircraft manufacturers of Greece
- Defence companies of Greece
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1935
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1951
- 1951 disestablishments in Greece
- Defunct manufacturing companies of Greece
- Companies based in Attica
- Greek companies established in 1935