Aerospool

Aerospool is a privately held Slovak aircraft manufacturer based in Prievidza. Established at the end of 1990 by members of the local Aero-club Prievidza, the company developed from small-scale composite and aircraft-component work into a manufacturer of ultralight aircraft, amateur-built aircraft kits and ready-to-fly light aircraft. Its activities also include the manufacture of major glider components, subcontract production, glider repair and refinishing, and aircraft pre-assembly, painting and final assembly. The company's early work was closely connected with gliding. Its first reported product was a fuselage for the WT3 glider. Aerospool subsequently produced hand-laid fibreglass trailers for transporting gliders, making more than 120 units. It also undertook subcontract manufacturing, including the production of more than 100 fuselages for the InterPlane Skyboy ultralight aircraft. Other component work included parts for the WT6, the Radab Windex and the Aeropro Eurofox. Aerospool began designing its own aircraft with the Aerospool Compact in 1992. The company expanded its technical and maintenance activities in 1993, when it began repairing Schempp-Hirth gliders and received approval from Germany's Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. It later produced Schempp-Hirth gliders under contract and became involved in the manufacture and finishing of components for the Ventus-2C, including tailplanes, elevators and winglets, as well as pre-assembly, painting and final assembly. The company's best-known powered-aircraft family originated with the Impulz prototype, which first flew in 1996. The design was developed into the WT-9 Dynamic in 2000. The two-seat WT-9 became Aerospool's principal commercial aircraft and was reported to have exceeded 500 deliveries by 2015. The company also developed the WT-10 Advantic, a larger three- to four-seat derivative. The WT-10 first flew on 11 April 2013 and was still under development in the available reference period, with plans for kit production for amateur builders once production commenced. Aerospool's brand position is therefore based on composite-aircraft engineering, low-volume aircraft manufacturing and specialist aviation production services rather than on large-scale commercial aviation. Its portfolio spans complete aircraft, aircraft kits, glider structures and subcontracted components. Publicly available material does not establish a current production volume, detailed ownership history, executive roster, official website address, sales figures or a complete international distribution network.

Aerospool was formed at the end of 1990 in Prievidza by members of Aero-club Prievidza. It was established as a Slovak spoločnosť s ručením obmedzeným, or private limited company, and initially concentrated on aircraft structures and related composite work rather than on a broad range of complete aircraft. Its first known product was a fuselage for the WT3 glider. The company then added hand-laid fibreglass trailers designed to transport gliders and reportedly produced more than 120 of them. Aerospool also developed a role as a subcontract manufacturer, producing more than 100 fuselages for the InterPlane Skyboy ultralight aircraft. Additional component projects included work for the WT6, the Radab Windex and the Aeropro Eurofox. In 1992, Aerospool designed its first own aircraft, the Aerospool Compact. The company broadened its support and maintenance capabilities in 1993 by beginning repairs for Schempp-Hirth gliders. It obtained approval from Germany's Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, enabling it to undertake recognized work on those aircraft. Aerospool subsequently produced Schempp-Hirth gliders under contract. By 2017, its reported work for the Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C program included tailplanes, elevators and winglets, together with pre-assembly, painting and final assembly. Aerospool's most commercially significant aircraft development began with the Impulz prototype, which made its first flight in 1996. The design evolved into the WT-9 Dynamic in 2000. The WT-9 was a two-seat light aircraft and became the company's principal powered-aircraft product. More than 500 examples were reported as delivered by 2015, indicating a substantial position within its specialist sport-aviation segment. The company later developed the WT-10 Advantic, a larger aircraft with seating for three to four people. The WT-10 first flew on 11 April 2013 and remained in development during the period covered by the available reference material. Aerospool intended the aircraft to be offered as a kit for amateur construction after production began. The company is also associated with the Twin Shark, a two-seat glider, although the available material does not establish its launch year, production volume or current availability. Across its history, Aerospool has combined aircraft design with composite manufacturing, subcontract production, glider maintenance and aircraft finishing. This combination has allowed it to participate both in branded aircraft programs and in the supply chain for other manufacturers. The available public sources do not provide a reliable account of later ownership changes, current management, exact workforce, present-day production rates or detailed market-by-market distribution.

1. 2017Expanded Ventus-2C component and finishing work

   Aerospool is reported to be manufacturing Ventus-2C tailplanes, elevators and winglets and performing pre-assembly, painting and final assembly for Schempp-Hirth.

   Source
2. 2015WT-9 deliveries exceed 500 aircraft

   Available reference material reports that more than 500 two-seat WT-9 Dynamic aircraft had been delivered by this year.

   Source
3. 2013WT-10 Advantic first flight

   The three- to four-seat WT-10 Advantic makes its first flight on 11 April.

   Source
4. 2000WT-9 Dynamic development

   The Impulz design is developed into the two-seat WT-9 Dynamic light aircraft.

   Source
5. 1996Impulz prototype makes its first flight

   The Impulz prototype flies for the first time and later becomes the basis for the WT-9 Dynamic.

   Source
6. 1993Glider repair activities receive German airworthiness approval

   The company begins repairing Schempp-Hirth gliders and receives approval from Germany's Luftfahrt-Bundesamt.

   Source
7. 1992Aerospool Compact design begins the company's own aircraft program

   Aerospool designs the Aerospool Compact, moving beyond component and subcontract work into development of its own aircraft.

   Source
8. 1990Aerospool is established in Prievidza

   Members of Aero-club Prievidza establish Aerospool at the end of the year as a Slovak private limited company.

   Source

Composite glider and ultralight-aircraft manufacturer serving sport aviation, amateur aircraft construction, general aviation and specialist aerospace subcontracting.

• WT-9 DynamicLight aircraft2000

  The WT-9 Dynamic is Aerospool's best-known powered aircraft. Developed from the Impulz prototype, it is a two-seat light aircraft associated with sport aviation, private flying and the wider ultralight and general-aviation market. The design uses composite construction and achieved reported commercial success, with more than 500 aircraft delivered by 2015. It is offered in the context of Aerospool's broader combination of ready-to-fly aircraft and amateur-built kit aviation.

• WT-10 AdvanticLight aircraft2013

  The WT-10 Advantic is a larger Aerospool aircraft derived from the company's light-aircraft development work. It is configured for three to four occupants, placing it above the two-seat WT-9 in capacity. The prototype first flew on 11 April 2013. In the available reference period it remained under development, with Aerospool planning to supply the aircraft as a kit for amateur construction once production began.

• Aerospool CompactLight aircraft design1992

  The Aerospool Compact was the company's first reported in-house aircraft design. Developed in 1992, it marked Aerospool's transition from producing glider fuselages, trailers and subcontracted components toward creating aircraft under its own design identity. Detailed specifications, production numbers and current status are not established by the available reference material.

• Twin SharkGlider

  Twin Shark is a two-seat glider associated with Aerospool's glider portfolio. It represents the company's continuing involvement in composite sailplanes and sport aviation alongside its powered ultralight aircraft. Publicly available material used for this dossier does not establish its launch date, production total, current configuration or present availability.

• Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C componentsGlider components and contract manufacturing

  Aerospool has been associated with contract manufacturing and finishing work for the Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C. Reported activities include producing tailplanes, elevators and winglets, as well as pre-assembly, painting and final assembly. This work illustrates Aerospool's role as a specialist composite-aircraft supplier in addition to its own branded aircraft programs.

1. Aerospool