Reims Aviation Industries was a French aircraft manufacturer located in the city of Reims, most recently producing the F406 Caravan II. Reims Aviation was a wholly owned subsidiary of GECI Aviation.[1]
| Predecessor | Avions Max Holste |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 17 April 2014 |
| Fate | liquidated, Sold to Continental Motors, Inc. |
| Headquarters | , France |
| Parent | GECI Aviation |
History
editMax Holste, the company founder, built his first aircraft in 1931, a light two-seater aircraft called the SHB1. In 1946, he started his own aircraft company, Avions Max Holste, in downtown Reims. In the 1950s, two new models were designed: the MH.1521 Broussard in 1950 and the MH.260 Super Broussard in 1959.[citation needed] In 1960, a cooperative agreement was signed with Cessna to produce light aircraft for the European market. The company was officially born as Reims Aviation in 1962, mainly producing the FR172 Reims Rocket, a more powerful version of the Cessna 172.[citation needed] In 1989, Reims Aviation bought back all the shares held by Cessna and became a private French aircraft manufacturer. Production of the single-engined airplanes was halted, and only the F406 remained in production.[citation needed]
The company entered receivership on 10 September 2013. On 25 March 2014, the Commercial Court of Reims approved the transfer of the Company's aircraft maintenance, cabin management, integration and installation systems assets to ASI Innovation and the transfer of its F406 assets to Continental Motors, Inc. With the disposition of the company's assets, its parent company, GECI Aviation, was also liquidated on 17 April 2014.[2][3] Continental has indicated that it plans to continue the production of the F406 in Mobile, Alabama.[4]
Products
editThe F406 was the last model still in production at the time of bankruptcy. All aircraft were made in cooperation with Cessna.
References
edit- ^ "GECI Aviation, an organisation making a place for itself on the world twin turboprop aircraft market" - GECI Aviation media release retrieved 2010-04-19
- ^ "Divestiture of Reims Aviation Industries and bankruptcy of GECI Aviation" (PDF). GECI Aviation press release #1. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Divestiture of Reims Aviation Industries and bankruptcy of GECI Aviation" (PDF). GECI Aviation press release #2. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ Rod Simpsons for FlyCorporate (March 28, 2014), Reims F406 sold to Continental Motors Archived 2015-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, article retrieved January 2nd, 2015.
External links
edit- Historique des avions Max Holste jusqu'à Reims Aviation (french)
- Interview de Pierre Clostermann, président de Reims Aviation (french) Aviation Magazine, 1973.
- Reims Aviation & the French Cessnas – Cessna Flyer Association