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The classic turboprop reaches new hands. The Swiss state company Ruag sold the Dornier 228 to a US company.
Ruag had big plans. 18 years ago, the Swiss state defense company bought the maintenance and production departments of the Dornier 228 from the bankrupt estate of Fairchild Dornier, which fell in 2002. The classic German turboprop would become a bestseller, completely renovated.
But the new edition of the plane with the same fuselage and wings as the original, but with a new glass cockpit, was not a success. Only a few dozen copies were built in Oberpfaffenhofen, Bavaria. In June 2019, Ruag put the program up for sale.
Planned expansion in Oberpfaffenhofen
Now the Swiss state-owned company has found a buyer for the maintenance, repair and production of the Dornier 228. General Atomics Europe will take over all business activities in Oberpfaffenhofen. This also includes maintenance work for private jets and military jets, Ruag said on Friday (October 16). The 450 employees would be assumed.
General Atomics Europe is a subsidiary of the US technology group General Atomics. It is best known for manufacturing military drones and nuclear power plants. “We are convinced of the great potential of this company and its employees and we want to develop Oberpfaffenhofen into the European aviation core of the General Atomics Europe Group,” said Harald Robl, Managing Director of General Atomics Europe, about the purchase of the Ruag business.
1980s model
There is also a change in strategy behind Ruag’s departure. The Swiss government has decided to divide the group into a national and international part. The international business will be focused and privatized later.
The original Dornier 228 from the traditional company Dornier made its first flight in 1981 and was built until 1998. It offers space for 19 passengers and has a range of around 845 kilometers, a maximum speed of 413 kilometers per hour and stol capacities, for what can take off and land on short runways. Indian Hindustan Aeronautics has also been manufacturing the aircraft under license as Hal 228 since the 1980s.
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