Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein

Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein AG (FFA) was a Swiss aircraft and railroad car manufacturing company based at Altenrhein. It was originally part of Dornier Flugzeugwerke, but was split off in 1948. Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke means "aircraft and vehicle works" in German.

In the years following World War II, FFA manufactured fighter aircraft for the Swiss Air Force, based on Morane-Saulnier designs as the D-3803. These were eventually replaced in service by surplus P-51 Mustangs.

In the 1950s, FFA developed two jet fighters, the N-20 "Aiguillon" and the P-16. The N-20 was cancelled after its first flight in 1951. The P-16 project, while promising, was cancelled after two crashes, and Hawker Hunters were bought instead. In the 1960s the company built the Diamant series of sailplanes.[1][2][3]

The firm licence-built many aircraft for Swiss use, including the de Havilland Vampire, de Havilland Venom, Pilatus P-3, Dassault Mirage III, and F-5 Tiger.

In 1987, the company was bought back by Dornier.

References

  1. ^ Activate Media (2006). "Diamant Flug und Fahrzeugwerke". http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=85. Retrieved 10 June 2011. 
  2. ^ Activate Media (2006). "Diamant 16.5M Flug und Fahrzeugwerke". http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=422. Retrieved 10 June 2011. 
  3. ^ Rogers, Bennett: 1974 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 58. Soaring Society of America, August 1974. USPS 499-920

External links