The State Aircraft Factory of Greece, official name Hellenic Air Force Aircraft Depot, usually known through the acronym KEA (Greek: Κρατικό Εργοστάσιο Αεροπλάνων), originally founded as EAF (Εργοστάσιο Αεροπλάνων Φαλήρου, "Phaliron Aircraft Factory"), is the oldest and most historic Greek aircraft manufacturer. It is a military unit subordinate to the Hellenic Air Force Support Command (HAFSC) and since 2012 it is located at Elefsis Air Base. [1]
The decision to establish an aircraft manufacturing company was taken in 1917, but the wars that followed delayed its foundation until 1925. It was based in Phaliron near Piraeus (the same area where the AEKKEA-RAAB aircraft maker was later headquartered) and technology and initial management were provided by BritishBlackburn Aircraft Limited, a company selected as a partner by the Greek military. The first type produced by the factory was the T3 Velos, designed by the British company.
In 1927 an all-Greek EAF design was introduced (although according to other sources, a British engineer was a part of the design team), the Chelidon (Swallow) multi-purpose military aircraft. It used a Salmson 120 hp engine and had a maximum speed of 150 km/h. However, only one was built for the Greek Navy, as it was considered inferior to alternative types. Later, the factory produced a series of aircraft types under license, including numbers of Avro 504 aircraft (504N and 504O models), a version of the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas (featuring certain modifications from the original Armstrong-Whitworth model) and the Avro 621 Tutor. At least 61 Tutors were produced, with a rate of seven per month in early 1940, as part of Greece's preparations after the outbreak of World War II.
The company had been fully nationalized since January 1938, when the name KEA was officially used. Preparations for the production of the PZL P.24, the main fighter used by the Greek Air Force at the time, as well as the Henschel Hs 126K-6 light bomber (for which an order of 90 units had been made to KEA) were never completed due to the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War in October 1940. Thus, the only KEA-produced type that saw action in World War II was the 621 Tutor (in addition to training, a number was incorporated in combat squadrons as liaison aircraft). Production also covered other areas, including refitting captured aircraft, manufacturing bombs, and specialized parts and tools. During Greece's occupation by the Axis powers the KEA facilities were used by the GermanLuftwaffe for technical support, while airport infrastructure, where some of its facilities were located, became targets of Allied bombing.
After the war, KEA divisions produced a number of gliders but it eventually focused on maintenance work for the Greek Air Force with only limited construction activity - which went to the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) when the latter was founded. Nonetheless, KEA has produced since the 1990s a number of PegasusUAVs, developed by HAI and a Greek State Research Institute.
EAF Chelidon (1927). Trainer, surveillance, developed in Greece. 1 built (out of 18 initially ordered).
EAF Atlas (1931). A lower-cost derivative of the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas army co-operation aircraft, with changes in wing structure, engine and propeller. Proven inferior to the original, 10 built.
EAF Avro 504 (1934). Trainer (N and O versions). Unknown number built.
Zoegling glider (1937). 4 built.
KEA Avro 621 (1938). Trainer and (during World War II) liaison aircraft. At least 61 built.
^"Hellenic Air Force Aircraft Depot". Hellenic Air Force. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
Referencesedit
Jane's "All the World's Aircraft" (1928 edition)
L.S. Skartsis, "Greek Vehicle & Machine Manufacturers 1800 to present: A Pictorial History", Marathon (2012) ISBN978-960-93-4452-4 (eBook)
Official Hellenic Air Force site (info about KEA) 2009-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
Gliders in Greece, by Kostas Pikros (in Greek)
December 02, 2023
hellenic, force, aircraft, depot, state, aircraft, factory, greece, official, name, usually, known, through, acronym, greek, Κρατικό, Εργοστάσιο, Αεροπλάνων, originally, founded, Εργοστάσιο, Αεροπλάνων, Φαλήρου, phaliron, aircraft, factory, oldest, most, histo. The State Aircraft Factory of Greece official name Hellenic Air Force Aircraft Depot usually known through the acronym KEA Greek Kratiko Ergostasio Aeroplanwn originally founded as EAF Ergostasio Aeroplanwn Falhroy Phaliron Aircraft Factory is the oldest and most historic Greek aircraft manufacturer It is a military unit subordinate to the Hellenic Air Force Support Command HAFSC and since 2012 it is located at Elefsis Air Base 1 Hellenic Air Force Aircraft DepotActive1925CountryGreeceBranchHellenic Air ForceRoleaircraft maintenance depotMotto s Greek Mox8ein anagkh eytyxeinWebsitehttps www haf gr en structure hafsc haf aircraft depot Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft types produced 3 Footnotes 4 ReferencesHistory editThe decision to establish an aircraft manufacturing company was taken in 1917 but the wars that followed delayed its foundation until 1925 It was based in Phaliron near Piraeus the same area where the AEKKEA RAAB aircraft maker was later headquartered and technology and initial management were provided by British Blackburn Aircraft Limited a company selected as a partner by the Greek military The first type produced by the factory was the T3 Velos designed by the British company nbsp KEA Chelidon the first plane produced by KEAIn 1927 an all Greek EAF design was introduced although according to other sources a British engineer was a part of the design team the Chelidon Swallow multi purpose military aircraft It used a Salmson 120 hp engine and had a maximum speed of 150 km h However only one was built for the Greek Navy as it was considered inferior to alternative types Later the factory produced a series of aircraft types under license including numbers of Avro 504 aircraft 504N and 504O models a version of the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas featuring certain modifications from the original Armstrong Whitworth model and the Avro 621 Tutor At least 61 Tutors were produced with a rate of seven per month in early 1940 as part of Greece s preparations after the outbreak of World War II The company had been fully nationalized since January 1938 when the name KEA was officially used Preparations for the production of the PZL P 24 the main fighter used by the Greek Air Force at the time as well as the Henschel Hs 126K 6 light bomber for which an order of 90 units had been made to KEA were never completed due to the outbreak of the Greco Italian War in October 1940 Thus the only KEA produced type that saw action in World War II was the 621 Tutor in addition to training a number was incorporated in combat squadrons as liaison aircraft Production also covered other areas including refitting captured aircraft manufacturing bombs and specialized parts and tools During Greece s occupation by the Axis powers the KEA facilities were used by the German Luftwaffe for technical support while airport infrastructure where some of its facilities were located became targets of Allied bombing After the war KEA divisions produced a number of gliders but it eventually focused on maintenance work for the Greek Air Force with only limited construction activity which went to the Hellenic Aerospace Industry HAI when the latter was founded Nonetheless KEA has produced since the 1990s a number of Pegasus UAVs developed by HAI and a Greek State Research Institute The historic company survives until today and is under direct Greek military command Aircraft types produced edit nbsp A AS332 Super Puma helicopter in front of the hangar of HAF Aircraft Depot Years in parentheses indicate starting of production EAF Blackburn T 3 T 3A Velos 1926 Reconnaissance training bomber designed by Blackburn 12 built EAF Chelidon 1927 Trainer surveillance developed in Greece 1 built out of 18 initially ordered EAF Atlas 1931 A lower cost derivative of the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas army co operation aircraft with changes in wing structure engine and propeller Proven inferior to the original 10 built EAF Avro 504 1934 Trainer N and O versions Unknown number built Zoegling glider 1937 4 built KEA Avro 621 1938 Trainer and during World War II liaison aircraft At least 61 built Vrona2 glider 1939 10 built Schneider SG 38 glider 1953 3 built Cavka glider 1958 10 built E1 79 Pegasus small number produced in the 1990s UAV designed by Hellenic Aerospace Industry and Hellenic Air Force Research Institute introduced in 1982 Pegasus II 2005 UAV improved version of Pegasus 16 units built or under construction to date Footnotes editThis article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Hellenic Air Force Aircraft Depot Hellenic Air Force Retrieved 2021 05 07 References editJane s All the World s Aircraft 1928 edition L S Skartsis Greek Vehicle amp Machine Manufacturers 1800 to present A Pictorial History Marathon 2012 ISBN 978 960 93 4452 4 eBook Official Hellenic Air Force site info about KEA Archived 2009 02 12 at the Wayback Machine Gliders in Greece by Kostas Pikros in Greek Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hellenic Air Force Aircraft Depot amp oldid 1125944871, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
