KEA (aircraft)
Encyclopedia
The State Aircraft Factory of Greece
, usually known through the acronym KEA is the most historic Greek
aircraft manufacturer, originally known as the EAF .
(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.
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 120hp 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 WWII.
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 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
UAV
s, developed by HAI and a Greek State Research Institute. The historic company survives to date, incorporated into the Greek military command.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, usually known through the acronym KEA is the most historic Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
aircraft manufacturer, originally known as the EAF .
History
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 PiraeusPiraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
(the same area where the AEKKEA-RAAB
AEKKEA-RAAB
The history of AEKKEA , an aircraft maker based in Greece, is connected with the fascinating history of a talented German aircraft designer, Antonius Raab The history of AEKKEA (Anonymos Etaireia Kataskevis Kai Ekmetallefseos Aeroplanon - Societe Anonyme Pour la Fabrication et l'Exploitation des...
aircraft maker was later headquartered) and technology and initial management were provided by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Blackburn Aircraft Limited, a company selected as a partner by the Greek military. The first type produced by the factory was the T3 Velos
Blackburn Velos
|-See also:-References:* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing.* Jackson, A.J. Blackburn Aircraft since 1909. London:Putnam, 1968. ISBN 370 00053 6....
, 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 120hp 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
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
aircraft (504N and 504O models), a version of the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas
Armstrong Whitworth Atlas
|-See also:-External links:* *...
(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 WWII.
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
PZL P.24
|-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Axworthy, Mark. Third Axis, Fourth Ally. London: Arms and Armour, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7.* Bernád, Dénes. Rumanian Air Force: The Prime Decade 1938-1947. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc, 1999. ISBN 0-89747-402-3.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish...
, the main fighter used by the Greek Air Force at the time, as well as the Henschel Hs 126K-6
Henschel Hs 126
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970 . ISBN 0-356-02382-6....
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
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
in October 1940. Thus, the only KEA-produced type that saw action in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was the 621 Tutor (in addition to training, a number was incorporated in combat squadrons as liaison aircraft). Production also covered other areas, including bombs, and specialized parts and tools. During Greece's occupation by the Axis powers the KEA facilities were used by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
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
Hellenic Aerospace Industry
Hellenic Aerospace Industry is the leading aerospace company of Greece. The company has undertaken over the years a great deal of subcontracting work with major International Aerospace companies and has accomplished many original developments in military electronics,...
(HAI) when the latter was founded. Nonetheless, KEA has produced since the 1990s a number of Pegasus
HAI Pegasus
The Pegasus is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle , a product of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry . Its development started in 1979 in collaboration with KETA and its first flight was made in 1982...
UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s, developed by HAI and a Greek State Research Institute. The historic company survives to date, incorporated into the Greek military command.
Aircraft types produced
(Years in parentheses indicate starting of production)- EAF Blackburn T.3/T.3A VelosBlackburn Velos|-See also:-References:* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing.* Jackson, A.J. Blackburn Aircraft since 1909. London:Putnam, 1968. ISBN 370 00053 6....
(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 AtlasArmstrong Whitworth Atlas|-See also:-External links:* *...
army co-operation aircraft, with changes in wing structure, engine and propeller. Proven inferior to the original, 10 built. - EAF Avro 504Avro 504The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
(1934). Trainer (N and O versions). Unknown number built. - Zoegling glider (1937). 4 built.
- KEA Avro 621 (1938). Trainer and (during WWII) 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 PegasusHAI PegasusThe Pegasus is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle , a product of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry . Its development started in 1979 in collaboration with KETA and its first flight was made in 1982...
(small number produced in the 1990s). UAV designed by Hellenic Aerospace IndustryHellenic Aerospace IndustryHellenic Aerospace Industry is the leading aerospace company of Greece. The company has undertaken over the years a great deal of subcontracting work with major International Aerospace companies and has accomplished many original developments in military electronics,...
and Hellenic Air Force Research Institute, introduced in 1982. - Pegasus IIHAI PegasusThe Pegasus is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle , a product of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry . Its development started in 1979 in collaboration with KETA and its first flight was made in 1982...
(2005). UAV, improved version of Pegasus. 16 units built (or under construction) to date.