Gyroflug
| Industry | General Aviation |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hohentengen , West-Germany |
| Products | Light Aircraft |
| Subsidiaries | Acquired by Justus Dornier Group in 1984 |
Gyroflug Ingenieurgesellscaft mbh was a German manufacturer of aircraft, primarily focused on light aircraft, with its flagship model being the Gyroflug Speed Canard. The company was established in 1978 and discontinued operations in 1992.
History
Established in August 1978, Gyroflug aimed to produce and market a two-seat canard light aircraft constructed from composite materials, named the Gyroflug Speed Canard. This aircraft’s design resembled the well-known American Rutan VariEze, but unlike the VariEze, which was sold as a homebuilt kit, the Speed Canard was intended for factory manufacture.
The maiden flight of the initial prototype occurred on 2 December 1980, followed by a second prototype in April 1983. Certification was first granted in September 1983. Toward the end of 1984, the Justus Dornier Group acquired Gyroflug, and in 1987 the company relocated from Karlsruhe to Mengen.
In 1990, Gyroflug underwent a rebranding to FFT (Gesellschaft für Flugzeug- und Faserverbund-Technologie mbH). The firm ceased trading on December 31, 1992. A communication sent to the FAA on June 23, 1998, confirmed that FFT had become defunct.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number produced | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Canard | 1980 | 160Template:Fix/category[citation needed] | Light aircraft |
| FFT Eurotrainer 2000 | 1990 | 1 | Light aircraft |
The Speed Canard received certification in Germany during 1983 and later obtained approval in the United States by 1990. The Eurotrainer 2000 was a single-engine four-seat light aircraft initially developed by Swiss manufacturer Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein (FFA), with Swissair as its initial customer. Its first flight took place on April 29, 1991.
References
- Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Second edition. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0-7509-3981-8.
- Lambert, Mark (editor). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
- http://www.skytamer.com/2.1.G.htm
- http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/KleinBernhard/9057.htm