Autoflug

Autoflug GmbH is a German mid-sized company active in aviation technology and defence technology, headquartered in Rellingen in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein. It was founded on 1 October 1919 by the aviation pioneer Gerhard Sedlmayr in Berlin-Johannisthal, the cradle of German aviation, originally as a specialist house for the automobile and aviation sectors. The company remains in the ownership of the Sedlmayr family and operates as a private limited company (GmbH). Autoflug's business spans three declared competence areas: textiles, mechanical and fine-mechanical components, and electronics. Its textile competence dates back to the early foundation years and today covers the manufacture and maintenance of parachute systems including harnesses, as well as unique textile absorption systems for mine-protected applications. This textile expertise made Autoflug a market leader in the development and manufacture of textile safety seats used in numerous aircraft and land vehicles. Its mechanical competence covers robust, lightweight components for aviation, including safety belts, flying structures and large-capacity containers. Its electronic competence addresses precision, reliability and functioning under extreme conditions, and includes fuel sensors for aircraft. Historically, Autoflug became a leading German manufacturer of rescue parachutes after beginning cooperation with the Irvin Air Chute Co. of American parachute pioneer Leslie Irvin in 1928 and obtaining a licence for Irvin parachute production in 1931. During the late 1930s and especially during the Second World War, the company produced harnesses, buckles and rescue parachutes in large quantities for the Luftwaffe. After the war, the founder's son, Dr. med. Gerhard Sedlmayr, rebuilt the company in Hamburg from 1955, and in 1958 the headquarters moved to Rellingen. Renewed cooperation with Leslie Irvin and the start of cooperation with the British ejection-seat manufacturer Martin-Baker quickly re-established Autoflug as a market leader and a close partner of the newly founded Bundeswehr. Today Autoflug develops and produces safety seats for aircraft and special military vehicles, fuel sensors for aircraft, as well as parachutes, harnesses and pilot protective suits and special equipment. In addition to its main plant in Rellingen, it operates a facility in Ummendorf where, in cooperation with the Bundeswehr, it ensures the maintenance and support of rescue and safety equipment for the Tornado and Eurofighter weapon systems. The company presents itself at major aerospace exhibitions such as ILA Berlin and the Paris Air Show.

Autoflug was founded on 1 October 1919 by Gerhard Sedlmayr (1891–1952) in Berlin-Johannisthal as "Autoflug, Spezialhaus für das Automobil- und Luftfahrtwesen, Gerhard Sedlmayr". Sedlmayr was an aviation pioneer: he had been a pilot trainee of the Wright brothers and in 1913 set a non-stop flight record of over six hours at the Johannisthaler Herbstflugwoche. Although he came from aviation, he gave the company a second pillar in motor vehicle matters, trading a broad range of products for the rapidly growing motorised road traffic market and even manufacturing its own motorcycles (then called Motorläufer). This diversification was likely also necessary because of the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. After the relaxation of the Versailles restrictions, Autoflug became a general representative for several international producers of aviation equipment, including the Irvin Air Chute Co. of American parachute pioneer Leslie Irvin. Cooperation with Irvin began in 1928, and in 1931 the company received permission for licensed production of Irvin parachutes; it also introduced the unique Autoflug Quick Release Connector. Autoflug developed into the leading manufacturer of rescue parachutes in Germany. During the late 1930s and especially during the Second World War, Autoflug manufactured harnesses, buckles and rescue parachutes in large quantities for the Luftwaffe. After the Second World War, Gerhard Sedlmayr received permission as early as October 1945 to operate a repair workshop for children's clothing and other textile goods at the Goslar site. From the beginning of 1951 the actual reconstruction of the company began, but the founder did not live to see it through, dying in 1952. In 1955 his son, Dr. med. Gerhard Sedlmayr, took over the reconstruction of the company in Hamburg. In 1958 the headquarters moved to Rellingen in Schleswig-Holstein. Through the resumption of cooperation with Leslie Irvin and the beginning of cooperation with the British ejection-seat manufacturer Martin-Baker, Autoflug quickly became a market leader in the industry again and a firm partner of the newly founded Bundeswehr. At the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA 1958 in Hanover, Autoflug employee Rolf Bullwinkel ejected himself at zero altitude using a Martin-Baker ejection seat; since 1958 Autoflug has performed repair and maintenance for Martin-Baker ejection seats in Germany and has manufactured components under licence. Today Autoflug develops and produces safety seats for aircraft and special military vehicles, fuel sensors for aircraft, as well as parachutes, harnesses and pilot protective suits and special equipment. In addition to its main plant in Rellingen, Autoflug has a plant in Ummendorf where, in cooperation with the Bundeswehr, it ensures the maintenance and support of rescue and safety equipment for the Tornado and Eurofighter weapon systems. The company remains owned by the Sedlmayr family and presents its products at major trade fairs such as ILA Berlin and the Paris Air Show.

• 1958

  Headquarters move to Rellingen; at ILA 1958 in Hanover an Autoflug employee ejects at zero altitude with a Martin-Baker seat, and Autoflug begins repair, maintenance and licensed component manufacture for Martin-Baker ejection seats in Germany.

• 1955

  His son, Dr. med. Gerhard Sedlmayr, takes over the reconstruction of the company in Hamburg.

• 1952

  Company founder Gerhard Sedlmayr dies.

• 1951

  The actual reconstruction of the company begins at the start of the year.

• 1945

  After the Second World War, Gerhard Sedlmayr receives permission in October to operate a repair workshop for children's clothing and other textiles in Goslar.

• 1931

  Autoflug begins licensed manufacture of Irvin parachute systems and introduces the unique Autoflug Quick Release Connector.

• 1928

  Cooperation with Irvin begins, leading Autoflug to become the leading manufacturer of rescue parachutes in Germany.

• 1919

  Autoflug is founded on 1 October by Gerhard Sedlmayr in Berlin-Johannisthal as a specialist house for the automobile and aviation sectors.

• 1913

  Gerhard Sedlmayr sets a non-stop flight record of over six hours at the Johannisthaler Herbstflugwoche.

• 1891

  Gerhard Sedlmayr, company founder, is born.

Mid-sized, family-owned German specialist in aviation and defence safety technology, positioning itself as a market leader in textile safety seats and rescue parachute systems, and a long-standing partner of the Bundeswehr.

• Textile safety seats

  Safety seats for aircraft and land vehicles, a field in which Autoflug became a market leader.

• Parachute systems and harnesses

  Manufacture and maintenance of various parachute systems including their harnesses.

• Textile absorption systems

  Unique textile absorption systems for mine-protected applications.

• Aircraft fuel sensors

  Fuel sensors for aircraft developed and produced by Autoflug.

• Pilot protective suits and special equipment

  Protective suits and special equipment for pilots.

• Safety belts and flying structures

  Mechanical components including safety belts and flying structures for aviation.

• Large-capacity containers for aviation

  Large-capacity containers produced for aviation applications.

• Martin-Baker ejection seat components and maintenance

  Repair and maintenance of Martin-Baker ejection seats in Germany and licensed manufacture of components.

1. 1Startseite - AUTOFLUGautoflug.com
2. 2History - AUTOFLUGautoflug.com
3. 3Autoflug - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Autoflug - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org