Astra Aircraft Factory
 A Proto 1 being assembled at the facility | |
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Marta factory Weitzer wagon factory |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Defunct | 1925 |
| Fate | Merged into IAR |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Romania |
Key people | Andrei Popovici |
The Astra Aircraft Factory (Romanian: Fabrica de avioane Astra), located in Arad, was Romania’s second enterprise dedicated to aircraft manufacturing. Operating from 1923 until 1925, it produced four distinct aircraft models: the Astra-Șeșefschi, Proto 1, Proto 2, and Astra-Proto.[1]
History
Beginning in 1915, the Marta factory specialized in producing Austro-Daimler aircraft engines. Following World War I, this facility merged with the Weitzer wagon factory to form Uzina de Vagoane Astra Arad (Astra-Arad Wagon Factory).[2][3]
In 1923, leadership of the factory was assumed by Comandor Andrei Popovici, previously the commander of Grupul 2 Aeronautic (2nd Aeronautical Group). Around this period, production commenced on an aircraft prototype designed by engineer Stanislav Șeșefschi, known as the Astra-Șeșefschi. Subsequently, the factory manufactured the Proto 1 and Proto 2 models.[4]
By 1925, Astra developed the Astra-Proto prototype based on designs by Major Ștefan Protopopescu. This particular aircraft did not proceed to mass production.[4] That same year marked the end of airplane manufacturing at Astra as both equipment and staff were relocated to the newly established IAR. While aircraft production ceased, the Astra facility continued producing railway rolling stock alongside manufacturing 250 hp Martha-Benz aircraft engines.[4]
Among the senior engineers contributing to Astra's aviation projects were Radu Onciul, Ștefan Urziceanu, Dumitru Barbieri, Stanislav Șeșefschi, and Victor Fedorov.[4]
Astra-Șeșefschi
The Astra-Șeșefschi was a two-seat reconnaissance biplane and marked the inaugural aircraft produced by the Astra Aircraft Factory in 1923. Engineer Stanislav Șeșefschi was responsible for its design. After evaluation flights conducted by Lieutenant Ion Sava, this model was distributed to various aviation units to assess its operational capabilities. Pilots Ion Sava and Petre Macavei accomplished a continuous flight from Arad to Bucharest, completing the journey in just two and a half hours. The aircraft was powered by a 6-cylinder 250 hp Marta-Benz engine, notable as the first domestically manufactured engine in Romania installed on an airplane that successfully flew.
Proto 1
The Proto 1 biplane served as a training and instructional aircraft, developed by Major Ștefan Protopopescu in partnership with engineers Dumitru Baziliu and Gheorghe Ticău. The initial prototype was constructed at the Arsenalul Aeronautic. Due to its favorable performance, the Ministry of War commissioned a batch of 25 units from the Astra Aircraft Factory. However, following the 1924 accident involving Ioan Sava Câmpineanu, production of the Proto 1 was halted. Subsequent enhancements were made, and the improved models were delivered under the designation Proto 2.
Proto 2
Produced by the Astra factory like its predecessor, the Proto 2 retained much of the Proto 1’s original design but incorporated safety improvements after analyzing Ioan Sava’s crash. These modifications included reinforcing the wing structure by enlarging the cross-section of the spars and adding an additional pair of interplane struts. Following these adjustments, a total of 25 units were manufactured and supplied to the Ministry of War.
Astra-Proto
The final aircraft model produced by Astra in 1925 was the Astra-Proto, a reconnaissance biplane designed by Ștefan Protopopescu. It featured a Hispano-Suiza 300 hp engine. Although the prototype successfully passed all required tests and fulfilled performance criteria, no orders for mass production were placed with the factory.
Legacy
Although Astra Aircraft Factory operated for only a brief period, the expertise acquired there was not lost. This knowledge was fully absorbed into Romania’s new aeronautical manufacturing hub located in Brașov, known as Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR).
See also
References
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