Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) was a West German aerospace manufacturer. It was formed during the late 1960s as the result of efforts to consolidate the West German aerospace industry; aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt AG merged with the civil engineering and aviation firm Bölkow in 1968, while rival aircraft manufacturer Hamburger Flugzeugbau (an offshoot of Blohm & Voss shipbuilders) was acquired by the company in the following year.
The company was responsible for the development and manufacture of various aircraft during its existence. Among its best-known products were the MBB Bo 105 light twin-engine helicopter and its enlarged derivative, the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117. MBB was also a key early partner on the Airbus A300, a wide-body twin-jet airliner; the company's involvement in the A300's development and production led to it forming a key component of the multinational Airbus consortium. It was also involved in numerous experimental aircraft programmes, such as the MBB Lampyridae, an aborted stealth aircraft.
The ownership and assets of MBB changed drastically throughout its roughly two decades of existence. The company was bought by Deutsche Aerospace AG (DASA) in 1989; following several mergers and restructures, the assets of what was MBB presently form a part of Airbus.
Contents
History
On 6 June 1968, Messerschmitt merged with the small civil engineering and civil aviation firm Bölkow, becoming Messerschmitt-Bölkow. The following May, the firm acquired Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB), which had originated as a branch of Blohm+Voss. To reflect the latter's acquisition, the company changed its name to Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB). Upon its formation, 51% of the shares in MBB was owned by the Blohm family, Willy Messerschmitt and Ludwig Bölkow; 22.07% was owned by the German State of Hamburg, 17.05% by the state of Bavaria, 7.16% by ThyssenKrupp, 7.16% by Siemens, 7.13% by Allianz, 7.13% by Robert Bosch GmbH and 6.15% by Krupp.
Perhaps the most successful product produced primarily by MBB was the Bo 105 helicopter. This rotorcraft, the design of which was headed by German engineer Ludwig Bölkow, made use of a revolutionary hingeless main rotor composed of fibreglass. On 13 October 1970, the German Civil Aviation Authority certified the Bo 105; initial deliveries for the first customers, ADAC Air Rescue and the Bavarian State Police, took place shortly thereafter. During 1972, an improved version of the rotorcraft with more powerful engines, the Bo 105C, was developed, this model quickly superseded the Bo 105A. Following its introduction to service in 1970, the Bo 105 quickly proved to be a commercial success. Production continued until 2001; by the end of production, 1,406 rotorcraft had been manufactured and delivered to operators in 55 nations worldwide. It served as the basis for several derivatives, such as the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117.
Having established a reputation for reliability and safety, MBB, along with one of its major shareholders, Boeing Vertol, began studying options during the 1970s for producing an enlarged version to accompany the Bo 105. However, Boeing withdrew from the venture, leading to MBB search for another partner; this was found in the form of Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. On 25 February 1977, MBB and Kawasaki signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a new rotorcraft. Under the terms of this agreement, the two corporations merged their previously separate projects to produce twin-engined general purpose helicopters, these being the Bo 107 by MBB and the KH-7 from Kawasaki. Separate elements were assigned to each company; MBB were responsible for developing the rotors (these were based on the rigid rotor system previously used on MBB's Bo 105), tailboom, flight controls and hydraulic system while Kawasaki undertook the development of the landing gear, airframe, main transmission, electrical system and other minor components. Each company established its own final assembly line for the type, on which they produced the rotorcraft to meet demands within their respective local markets.
Subsidiaries
MBB-Liftsystems AG, which produces lifting systems for trucks and vans.
MBB-Sondertechnik (today FHS Förder– und Hebesysteme GmbH), developed wind rotors in the 1980s and 1990s, and lifting systems for military use.
MBB Gelma GmbH, produces timekeeping units and machine control units (today owned by DORMA KG)
MBB Group AG
Products
Aircraft
MBB Lampyridae
MBB Bo 102
MBB Bo 103
MBB Bo 105
MBB Bo 106
MBB Bo 108 - became the Eurocopter EC 135
MBB Bo 115
MBB Bo 209
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117
MBB 223 Flamingo
MBB/Hamburger Flugzeugbau HFB-320 Hansa Jet
MBB F-104G/CCV (CCV Program)
Airbus A300
Airbus A310
Airbus A320 family
Eurofighter Typhoon
Panavia Tornado
Rockwell-MBB X-31
Transall C-160
MPC 75
Missiles
AS.34 Kormoran
Cobra (missile)
HOT (missile)
MILAN
Roland (missile)
Space hardware
Galileo (spacecraft)
Helios (spacecraft)
Symphonie
EURECA
Shuttle pallet satellite
Spacelab
Saenger (spacecraft)
Other
MBTA Commuter Rail BTC-3 and CTC-3 rail cars
DB Class 420 commuter trains
DB ICE 1 high-speed trains
Alpenflug, a suspended roller coaster