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Aerostar (Romanian company)

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Aerostar S.A.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAviation manufacturing
Founded1953
Headquarters
Bacău
,
Romania
Area served
International
ProductsMilitary aircraft maintenance, trainer aircraft, light sport and aerobatic aircraft, UAVs, aerostructures
OwnerIAROM (parent company)

Aerostar S.A. is an aviation manufacturing firm located in Bacău, Romania.

History

File:Aerostar Festival (2).jpg
Aerostar Festival

Founded in 1953, the company has undergone several name changes, evolving from U.R.A. to I.R.Av, then I.Av, and ultimately adopting the name Aerostar. Initially under the authority of the Ministry of Armed Forces, it presently operates as a subsidiary of IAROM, the former National Centre of the Romanian Aeronautical Industry (CNIAR).[1][2][3]

File:Yak-52TW.jpg
An Aerostar-produced Iak-52TW trainer aircraft

Aerostar has played a pivotal role in providing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for all Romanian military aircraft types. The company was responsible for developing the IAR-93, a twin-engine tactical ground-attack and reconnaissance aircraft, notable as Romania’s first fighter aircraft manufactured after the conclusion of the Second World War. Additionally, Aerostar has produced over 1,800 Yak-52 trainer planes, assembled domestically in three variants: Iak-52, Iak-52W, and Iak-52TW.[4][5] The company also created its own line of light sport and aerobatic aircraft, including the Festival model.[6]

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Aerostar collaborated with Israeli defence electronics company Elbit Systems to develop modernization programs for both the MiG-21 (resulting in the MiG-21 LanceR) and MiG-29 fighter jets.[7][8] These upgrades facilitated the transformation of the Romanian Air Force’s existing MiG-21 and MiG-21 bis fighters into the LanceR variant.[9] Aerostar also delivered upgraded MiG-21s to foreign customers such as the Mozambique Air Force.[10][11] Conversely, the MiG-29 SNIPER upgrade remained at the demonstration stage as resources were prioritized on MiG-21 enhancements.[12][13] Simultaneously, modernization efforts were directed at Iak-52W and Iak-52TW trainer aircraft. Aerostar also contributed to upgrading the Romanian Army's fleet of forty APRA 122 FMC multiple rocket launchers through the LAROM program.[14][15]

During this period, Aerostar engaged extensively in international collaborations with aerospace entities such as Elbit Systems, Thales Group (formerly Thomson-CSF), EADS (DaimlerChrysler Aerospace) and Textron Marine & Land Systems.[16][17][18] Company executives have indicated that forming such alliances is a strategic priority for long-term growth.[19][20] A significant area of focus has been manufacturing aerostructures.[21] Throughout the following decade, Aerostar restructured its operations to pursue international clientele more aggressively, aiming to reduce dependence on domestic customers like the Romanian military.[22]

Beginning in the early 1990s, Romania initiated privatisation efforts targeting state-owned enterprises including Aerostar.[23] According to reports by Flight International, several foreign aerospace firms showed interest in acquiring stakes in Aerostar, among them German aerospace giant DASA.[24] In February 2000, it was declared that a private consortium comprising Aerostar’s management and employees (PAS) alongside IAROM would purchase the Romanian government's majority shareholding of approximately seventy percent; however, Romania retained a golden share enabling veto rights over decisions that might jeopardize defense capabilities.[25][26] That year also saw Aerostar reorganized into a limited liability company format, reportedly both for tax optimization and to appeal more strongly to prospective investors supporting expansion ambitions.[27]

In the mid-2000s, Aerostar secured contracts to manufacture airframes for Southern Powered Parachutes’ Southern Condor powered parachutes marketed in North America.[28] Toward the late decade, it began producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with Israeli technical collaboration;[29] several contracts were signed with foreign armed forces for these UAV products.[30][31] In addition, in 2011, an agreement involving Elbit Systems and the Romanian Air Force awarded work to upgrade Romania’s fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.[32]

Over recent decades, Aerostar has expanded its MRO offerings to serve commercial airlines and international operators alike; since around 2003 it has been involved in servicing civilian Boeing 737 aircraft.[33] To accommodate this growth, a new hangar was inaugurated at its Bacău base in 2012.<ref>Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). Template:First=Michaël Template:Last=gubisch Template:Date='1 May ' Template:Work='Flight International' }}</ ref > In May of '15 , Russian budget airline Utair contracted maintenance services from Aerostars ; by then , over fifty Boeing '737 s annually underwent C-check inspections at its facilities .< ref > Template:Cite web url=https :// www . flightglobal . com / aerost ar - services - utair -737 s /116928 . article title=Ae rostar services UTair '737 s publisher=' Flight International date='19 May '15 </ ref > Similarly , MRO support has been extended to operators flying within the Airbus A320 family.< ref name =' flight a3192014' > {{ cite web url=https :// www . flightglobal . com / aerost ar - wins - a319 - c - check - work - from - fastjet /112765 . article title=Ae rostar wins A319 C-check work from Fastjet publisher=' Flight International' first=Michaël last=gubisch date='26 March '14 }} </ ref >

In September of '20 , a new aircraft maintenance facility was launched at Iași Airport.< ref > {{ cite web title='Hangarul Ae rostar de la Aeroport și-a deschis porțile' url='https :// www . ziaruldeiasi . ro / stiri / video - hangarul - aerost ar - de la - aeroport - si -a-deschis-portile-imagini-in-premiera--262847 . html' website=' ziaruldeiasi . ro' date='1 September '20 }} </ ref >

From '21 onwards , Ae rostar assumed maintenance duties for the Romanian Air Force's fleet of F‑16 fighters. The contract covering "Phase inspection" work on F‑16 tail number1603 was granted on17 September '21 .< ref > {{ cite web url=https :// www . aviatiamagazin . com / headline / primul-avion-f -16-care-va-merge-la-aero star-pentru-lucrari-de-metenanta / title='Primul avion F‑16 care va merge la Ae rostar pentru lucrări de mentenanță' language='ro' work='Aviatia Magazin' author='Marius Doroftei' date='21 September '21 }} </ ref > < ref > {{ cite web url=https :// ted . europa . eu / udl ? uri=TED : NOTICE :472263 -2021 : TEXT : EN : HTML & src ='0' title='Romania-Otopeni: Repair and maintenance services of military aircrafts [sic], missiles and spacecrafts' work='Tenders Electronic Daily' date='17 September '21 }} </ ref > < ref > Template:Cite web url=http :// www . aerost ar . ro / militare-en title='MRO & Upgrades , Military Aircraft' work='Ae rostar' </ ref > In cooperation with Lockheed Martin, Ae rostar inaugurated Europe's first maintenance centres dedicated to servicing Sikorsky S‑70 Black Hawk helicopters and M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems during '24 .< ref > {{ cite web url=https :// www . defenseromania . ro / primul-centru-de-intretinere-a-el icopterelor-s‑70-black-hawk-din-europa-e-in-romania-aero star-bacau-effectueaza-si-pentru-f‑16-lucrari-similare_626497 . html title='Primul centru de întreținere a elicopterelor S‑70 Black Hawk din Europa e în România. Ae rostar Bacău efectuează și pentru F‑16 lucrări similare' language='ro' work='DefenseRomania' date='18 January '24 }} </ ref > < ref > {{ cite web url=https :// news . lockheedmartin . com /2024 -05 -30-aero star-and-lockheed-martin-open-the-first-european-himars-sustainment-centre-in-romania title='Ae rostar and Lockheed Martin open the first European HIMARS Sustainment Centre in Romania' website='lockheedmartin . com' date='30 May '24 }} </ ref >

Warbird projects

File:Flugwerk Fw 190A-8-N AN2294798.jpg
An Aerostar Fw 190 replica

Beginning in 1996, the German firm Flug Werk GmbH partnered with Aerostar Bacău SA to produce Fw 190 replicas. The inaugural flight took place in 2004, and ultimately, 21 units were assembled and distributed as kits.

The Aerostar design team incorporated approximately 3.5 tons of components salvaged from various wrecks and compiled a comprehensive set of around 8,000 technical drawings. Due to the absence of original BMW 801 engines, they opted for Chinese-manufactured Dongan Hs-7 engines, which are licensed replicas of the Shvetsov ASh-82FN. These powerplants delivered roughly 200 hp more than the BMW originals. Additionally, the landing gear, engine mount, and exhaust system underwent redesigns utilizing contemporary materials.

Furthermore, three Fw 190 D models equipped with Allison V-12 engines were also produced.

Products

Model name First flight Number built Type
Yakovlev Yak-52 1977 Over 1,900 Two-seat trainer aircraft
Aerostar R40S Festival 2001 Two-seat light sport airplane
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 2004 21 Replica single-engine monoplane fighter

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (in Romanian)
  2. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  12. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named flight a3192014
  22. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  23. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  25. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  27. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ↑ Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003–04. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. page 81. ISSN 1368‑485X.
  29. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  30. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  31. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  32. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  33. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

External links

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