Greek News and Events 1940

Professional

Monday, May 23rd 2011, 2:24am

November, 28th
In a surprise announcement today at the Paris Air Show, Eleftherios Venizelos, Director of KEA (National Aircraft Factory), along with Chief of the Air Force General Staff Air Marshal Georgios Sotiropoulos, announced a joint venture between KEA and British Bristol Aeroplane Company and French Morane-Saulnier. As part of this agreement both Bristol and Morane-Saulnier will acquire a stake in KEA in exchange for the rights for KEA to license build Bristol and Morane-Saulnier aircraft as well as Bristol engines. This will be accompanied by substantial upgrades to the KEA factory in Phaliron. The proposed upgrades will double the available factory floor space and allow for more advanced metal-shaping techniques, permitting more modern aircraft to be built, and increasing production to an estimated twenty-two aircraft a month. Also, assistance will be provided to allow KEA to augment it's own internal design bureau, allowing for more advanced indigenous designs.

It was also announced that KEA had been granted license to build Hispano-Suiza 12Y51 and 12Z engines as well as HS.404 20mm autocannons.

Director Venizelos was quoted as saying -
"Today is a great day for the aircraft industry in Greece. Not only will these agreements allow us to produce more competitive aircraft, the influx of ideas and financial assistance will allow for the expansion of the industry as a whole and lead to a great increase in jobs. This is truly a great day for Greece."