View Full Version : African Aircraft Manufacturers
Wind Sock
28th Jan 2016, 15:37
I didn't know there were any aircraft manufacturers, let alone military ones, throughout the whole continent of Africa!
Then I came across this one based in South Africa :
Africa - First African military aircraft takes to the skies, making aviation history - France 24 (http://www.france24.com/en/20140816-aviation-africa-first-military-aircraft-south-africa)
I have since found out there were a few more non-Military ones also in South Africa.
But here is a question - Is South Africa the only country within the whole continent of Africa that has aircraft manufacturers?
kenparry
28th Jan 2016, 16:33
Probably, yes.
But this is not the first manufacturer in South Africa. Back in apartheid days the government started Atlas Aircraft Corporation, which built under licence the Aermachhi 326.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aermacchi_MB-326 for more info.
Planemike
28th Jan 2016, 17:04
I feel sure aircraft have been built in Egypt in the past.......... The Heliopolis Gomhouria springs to mind. License built Bucker Beastmann.
Wageslave
29th Jan 2016, 00:12
There's always this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVqQKF7xgTQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJAZRLn0Hig
Wind Sock
31st Jan 2016, 10:21
There's always this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVqQKF7xgTQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVqQKF7xgTQ)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJAZRLn0Hig (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJAZRLn0Hig[/QUOTE)
You have to admire their optimism. http://www.pprune.org/images/icons/mpangel.gif
Iznogood
31st Jan 2016, 11:30
It depends on what you call an aircraft...
Egypt - The Helwan HA-300, based on a design by no less than Prof Willy Messerschmitt
SA - Atlas Cheetah, albeit its essentially a Mirage
SA - Denel Rooivalk, attack helicopter. This was probably the first true African bred military type
SA - The Sling, a rather smart little light sports aircraft
For other weird and wonderful types, check out the Virtual Aircraft Museum
Keke Napep
1st Feb 2016, 21:12
TCU,
Surely the Denel Rooivalk, like the Oryx, has its origins in the SA330? Irrespective of that, it's a very good attack helicopter whose competence is not reflected in its sales, mostly due to politics I suppose.
avionimc
2nd Feb 2016, 06:54
And this project by DENEL. Not sure if it ever flew?
http://www.janes.com/images/assets/444/43444/SARA-is-team-effort-_AAD143_.jpg
ct2003
2nd Feb 2016, 12:42
Still a project, afaik. Done some work for it last year.
jetglo
4th Feb 2016, 12:25
Although not strictly a scratch-built aircraft, don't forget the RV-6A Air Beetle that was supplied in kit form to Nigeria in the late 1980/90s as a basic trainer for the Air Force. They were built/assembled at Kaduna Military Airport with the involvement of AIEP Dornier. I remember seeing one flying some impressive aerobatics there, probably in 1990-ish.