Aviatik Explained

Aviatik
Industry:Aircraft manufacture
Fate:Closed under Treaty of Versailles
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founded:1909
Founders:-->
Defunct:1919
Hq Location City:Freiburg then Leipzig
Areas Served:-->
Owners:-->

Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen (today in France) in 1909[1] and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft. It relocated to Freiburg in 1914 and to Leipzig in 1916 and established a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische Flugzeugfabrik Aviatik. During the war, the company became best known for its reconnaissance aircraft, the B.I and B.II, although the Austro-Hungarian subsidiary also produced a number of its own designs, including fighters such as the D.I.[2]

History

The company was founded in December 1909 by the Alsatian Georges Chatel.[3] It started with the license-production of French aircraft; Hanriot monoplanes and Farman biplanes. From 1912, the factory started building its own successful biplanes, designed by Robert Wild.[3]

Just at the beginning of World War One, on 1 August 1914 the company was relocated to Freiburg due to French threat, and then to new facilities in Leipzig-Heiterblick in 1916.[3] The company did not continue after the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.

Aircraft

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Grosz . Peter . Windsock Datafile 102: Aviatik B types . 2003 . Albatros Productions . Berkhamsted . 0-948414-95-2 . 101.
  2. Book: Grosz. Peter M.. Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. 1993. 2002. Flying Machine Press. Boulder. 1 891268 05 8. George. Haddow . Peter. Scheiner. 129–189.
  3. Book: Grosz . Peter . Windsock Datafile 102: Aviatik B types . 2003 . Albatros Productions . Berkhamsted . 0-948414-95-2. II cover page