Manufacturers
Airframers and engine makers: foundation, major programmes, mergers and present status, with sources.
Major airframers today
15 July 1916
Boeing
Founded in Seattle, Boeing is an American manufacturer of civil, military and space aircraft and systems.
Active
1970
Airbus
Emerging from European industrial cooperation, Airbus became an integrated group active in commercial aircraft, helicopters, defence and space.
Active
1969
Embraer
Founded in 1969, Brazilian manufacturer Embraer has grown from regional aircraft into business and defence aviation.
Active
11 May 2008
COMAC
Founded in Shanghai in 2008, Chinese aerospace manufacturer COMAC develops civil transport aircraft, including the C919.
Active
Historic manufacturers
1921
Douglas / McDonnell Douglas
An American manufacturer that became a major producer of civil and military aircraft before its integration into Boeing.
Absorbed by Boeing (1997)
1926
Lockheed
An American civil and military aircraft manufacturer integrated into Lockheed Martin in 1995.
Integrated into Lockheed Martin; active in defence
1920
de Havilland
Founded by Geoffrey de Havilland, the British company produced notable civil and military aircraft, from the Moth to the Comet.
Integrated into Hawker Siddeley in 1960
1942
Bombardier / Canadair
Growing from a Quebec snow-vehicle company and Canadair’s legacy, Bombardier became a major builder of regional and business aircraft.
Active in business aviation; commercial-aircraft activities divested
Cessna: 1927
Cessna et Piper — aviation légère américaine
Cessna and Piper are two American manufacturers whose aircraft have played a major role in the development of light and general aviation.
Cessna is a Textron Aviation brand; Piper Aircraft remains an independent manufacturer
Europe
1929
Dassault Aviation
A French aircraft manufacturer descended from Marcel Bloch’s workshops, Dassault has developed civil and military aircraft, from early jets to the Mirage and Rafale programmes.
Active
1957
Sud Aviation
Created in 1957 by merging SNCASE and SNCASO, Sud Aviation built the Caravelle, developed helicopters and led French participation in Concorde before the 1970 merger.
Merged into Aérospatiale in 1970
1 January 1970
Aérospatiale
Formed in 1970 by merging Sud Aviation, Nord Aviation and SEREB, Aérospatiale combined aircraft, helicopters, missiles and space activities, joining Matra in 1999 before EADS was created in 2000.
Merged into Aérospatiale-Matra in 1999; incorporated into EADS in 2000
1936-1937: SNCAN; 1950s: Nord Aviation name
Nord Aviation
Emerging from SNCAN, Nord Aviation built transport aircraft and missiles before joining Aérospatiale in 1970.
Merged into Aérospatiale in 1970
1999
Aérospatiale-Matra
Formed in 1999 by combining Aérospatiale and Matra Hautes Technologies, the group helped establish EADS in 2000.
Integrated into EADS on 10 July 2000
10 July 2000
EADS
Created in 2000, EADS combined European aviation, defence and space businesses before becoming Airbus Group and then Airbus SE.
Became Airbus Group (2014), Airbus Group SE (2015), then Airbus SE (2017)
Late 1960s
DASA / MBB
MBB and then DASA combined German aviation and space businesses, contributed to Airbus and joined EADS in 2000.
Principal activities integrated into EADS in 2000, subsequently Airbus
1923
CASA
Founded in 1923, CASA combined licensed production, transport aircraft and European cooperation before joining EADS in 2000.
Integrated into EADS in 2000; activities continue within Airbus
1977
British Aerospace / BAE Systems
British Aerospace brought together several British manufacturers in 1977; renamed BAE Systems in 1999, the group focuses on defence.
BAE Systems, active defence group since 1999
1992
Eurocopter / Airbus Helicopters
Eurocopter was created in 1992 by the merger of the helicopter activities of Aérospatiale and DASA (formerly MBB), on a 70%/30% basis; the company became Airbus Helicopters on 2 January 2014.
Airbus Helicopters since 2 January 2014, within the Airbus group
1917
Latécoère
Founded around the Montaudran workshops, the French aerospace company Latécoère contributed to commercial aviation and airmail, notably through its flying boats.
Active, aerospace supplier
1911
Breguet
Founded by Louis Breguet, the Breguet firm shaped French aviation through its experiments, military aircraft and transport designs.
Absorbed by Dassault Aviation (1971)
1912
Fokker
Founded by Anthony Fokker, the Dutch company built military and civil aircraft before its bankruptcy in 1996.
No longer an independent manufacturer (1996)
1895
Junkers
Junkers was a German manufacturer associated with metal airframes, transport aircraft and several military programmes.
Defunct; assets taken over by the Reich in 1933–1935, becoming Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke (JFM) in 1936, later absorbed into East German aviation
1937
Saab
Saab is a Swedish manufacturer originating in the defence industry, known for military and regional aircraft.
Active in defence; civil aviation activities were divested
1981
ATR
ATR is a Franco-Italian manufacturer of regional turboprop aircraft, established by Aérospatiale and Aeritalia.
Active; equally owned by Airbus and Leonardo
USSR / Russia
1922
Tupolev
A Soviet and later Russian aircraft design bureau founded around Andrei Tupolev, known for experimental, military and civil aircraft.
Integrated into United Aircraft Corporation
1933
Ilyushin
A Soviet and later Russian design bureau founded by Sergei Ilyushin, associated with military and civil transport aircraft.
Integrated into United Aircraft Corporation
1946
Antonov
An aircraft manufacturer and design bureau founded around Oleg Antonov, known especially for utility and heavy transport aircraft.
Active in Ukraine
Engine makers
1906
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce is a British engine manufacturer whose piston and later jet engines have powered major military and civil aircraft.
Active
1925
Pratt & Whitney
Founded in 1925, American engine maker Pratt & Whitney has developed piston and jet engines for civil and military aviation.
Active, part of RTX
1917
GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace develops civil and military aircraft engines rooted in the history of General Electric.
Active, independent company since 2024
2005
Safran
A French aerospace and defence group, Safran is an engine maker and equipment supplier.
Active