VFW-Fokker GmbH was
a joint venture
of Fokker and Vereinigte
Flugtechnische Werke (VFW)
started in 1969 that, from
then on, controlled the ERNO initiative.
The Entwicklungsring
Nord (Northern
development circle) —
abbreviated ERNO — was a
1961 joint venture
of Bremen-based Weserflug and Focke-Wulf with Hamburger
Flugzeugbau to develop parts
for rockets and get involved
in space activities.
In
1961 work began on a small,
jet-powered transport
aircraft initially styled
Erno-61-4.
After Weserflug and Focke
Wulf formally merged into Vereinigte
Flugtechnische Werke (VFW)
in 1964, the machine was
redesignated VFW 614. The
draft design was amended to
a STOL 40-44 passenger jet
with overwing engines, for
easier operation from
unprepared runways. German
government subsidies enabled
development to start in
earnest in 1966. The first
prototype started in August
1968, but then VFW
and Fokker of the
Netherlands formed a joint
transnational holding
company.
VFW-Fokker teamed
with Republic Aviation to
develop the D-24 Alliance Variable
sweep wing VTOL aircraft as
part of the AVS ("Advanced
Vertical Strike").
The
prototype flew on July 14,
1971, but crashed next
February. Two more
prototypes flew in 1972.
German, FAA, and French DGA
certifications completed in
1974, 1975, and 1976
respectively. The
collaborative production
arrangements
involved Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
in Germany, Fokker VFW in
the Netherlands and SABCA and Fairey in
Belgium. The first sale was
to Cimber Air, which started
commercial flights in
November 1975.
The
VFW-Fokker alliance affected
the VFW 614 negatively, as
Fokker needed to sell its
competing F27 and F28. National
subsidies were diverted to
the Airbus program, and the
end came for the VFW-614. On
August 19, 1977 the
nineteenth (including
prototypes) and last machine
was completed.
Few
VFW 614 aircraft remained in
use. Only the Koln/Bonn
Flugbereitschaft der
Luftwaffe continued flying
VFW 614 until they finally
ceased in 1998. Only DLR in Braunschweig
(region) and EADS Airbus at Bremen now
retain the machines for
research duties.
Source:
Wikipedia
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