Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke
West German aerospace manufacturer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW) was a West German aerospace manufacturer.
Industry | Aircraft manufacturer |
---|---|
Predecessor | Focke-Wulf and Weser Flugzeugbau |
Founded | 1964; 60 years ago (1964) in Bremen, West Germany |
Defunct | 1981 |
Fate | Acquired & Merged |
Successor | Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm |
The company was formed by the 1964 merger of two German aerospace firms, Focke-Wulf and Weser Flugzeugbau GmbH (Weserflug). The formation of VFW was a natural outcome, as the two companies had been collaborating, along with Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB), in the rocket technology development alliance Entwicklungsring Nord (ERNO) group since 1961, the move was seen as a natural fit. Such collaborative efforts continued throughout VFW's operating years, not just through ERNO but also with the Dutch aircraft producer Fokker, who formed a joint venture with the firm, VFW-Fokker GmbH, during 1969 to promote.
Collaboration with Fokker waned substantially over the years, having been greatly soured by the poor results of the VFW 614 programme, resulting in VFW-Fokker GmbH being wound up in 1980. During 1981, VFW was acquired by its domestic rival, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), and was largely integrated into it. Through various mergers and acquisitions, the present-day successor company to VFW is the multinational Airbus Group. The firm's space-based activities under ERNO has also been integrated into one of Airbus's operating divisions.