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{{Short description|Belgian aerospace manufacturer}}
'''SABCA''' ('''Sociétés Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques''') is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[aerospace]] company, a subsidiary of the [[Dassault Group]].
{{Infobox company
| name = Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| logo = File:Sabca logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| type =
| traded_as = SABCA
| founded = {{start date and age|1920}}
| hq_location = [[Brussels]]
| hq_location_country = [[Belgium]]
| industry = [[Aerospace manufacturer|Aerospace]]
| products = [[Aircraft]]
| key_people =
| revenue =
| revenue_year =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees = 993 (2020)<ref name = "official history">{{cite web |url = https://www.sabca.be/about |title = About |publisher = SABCA |accessdate = 5 April 2020}}</ref>
| subsid =
| homepage = [https://www.sabca.be sabca.be]
| footnotes =
| owners = Blueberry
}}


Its main sectors of activity are [[civil aviation]], [[outer space|space]] and [[Fighter aircraft|defence]].
'''SABCA''' ('''Sociétés Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques''') is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[aerospace]] company. Its main sectors of activity are [[civil aviation]], [[outer space|space]] and [[Fighter aircraft|defence]].


SABCA was established during 1920. Presently, it is owned by the Belgian group Blueberry, itself owned by the Société Fédérale de Participations et d'Investissement (SFPIM) (a Belgian federal holding) and Sabena Aerospace.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-29 |title=Blueberry, nouveau groupe industriel belge dans l'industrie aéronautique et aérospatiale |url=https://www.agoria.be/fr/positionnement/flandres/blueberry-nouveau-groupe-industriel-belge-dans-lindustrie-aeronautique-et-aerospatiale |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Agoria |language=fr}}</ref>
The company has three locations:

⚫
* [[Brussels]] - headquarters and main centre of operations
==History==
⚫
* [[Charleroi]] - [[military aircraft]] and [[helicopter]] maintenance, technical and logistic support to the customers.
During 1920, SABCA was founded with the purpose of locally designing and building aircraft to satisfy [[Belgium]]'s emerging aviation requirements.<ref name = "official history"/> Its first manufacturing site was adjacent to [[Haren Airport]], in the suburbs of [[Brussels]]. During the [[Interwar period]], the company produced a number of in-house designs, as well as engaging in the manufacture of both civil and military aircraft.<ref name = "official history"/> Throughout its existence, SABCA has been a prolific user of [[licensed production|production licenses]], which have authorised the firm to build other manufacturers' aircraft. During 1926, the company constructed a total 15 [[Airco DH.4]] [[light bomber]]s.<ref name="Jackson p60">Jackson 1987, p. 60.</ref>
⚫
* [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]] - high-performance composite component [[manufacturing]] subsidiary

While its operations were disrupted by the [[German occupation of Belgium during World War II|German occupation of Belgium]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]], SABCA resumed operations shortly following the [[Victory in Europe Day|end of the conflict]].<ref name = "official history"/> In 1955, a new manufacturing plant was opened at [[Brussels South Charleroi Airport|Charleroi Airport]]. Around this same period, SABCA became involved in early [[European Space Research Organisation|European space programmes]]; the firm would be involved in the production of [[Spacelab]] as well as both the [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane]] and [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]] [[expendable launch system]]s.<ref name = "official history"/> SABCA also cooperated with the Dutch manufacturer [[Fokker]] in the manufacture of its [[Fokker F27 Friendship|F27 Friendship]] and [[Fokker 50|50]] short-haul [[airliner]]s. Other civil programmes the firm was involved with include producing elements of the [[Dassault Mercure]] and [[VFW-Fokker 614]] airliners.<ref name = "official history"/>

Throughout the [[postwar]] era, the company was involved in the manufacturing of large numbers of licensed aircraft as well as associated upgrade programmes; such aircraft included the [[Hawker Hunter]], the [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet]], the [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter#Variants|Lockheed F-104G Starfighter]], the [[Dassault Mirage 5]], and the [[AgustaWestland AW109]] helicopter.<ref name = "official history"/> During the 1970s and 1980s, SABCA was responsible for operating one of the two European production lines for the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]]; a total of 164 aircraft would be manufactured at its [[Brussels South Charleroi Airport|Gosselies]] facility. The European co-production initiative was officially launched on 1 July 1977; under this arrangement, [[Fokker]]-produced components were delivered to [[General Dynamics]]' [[Fort Worth]] facility for fuselage assembly, which were then shipped back to Europe for final assembly of the aircraft at the SABCA's facility; deliveries to the [[Belgian Air Force]] started in January 1979. During the following year, SABCA commenced deliveries to the [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]].<ref>Peacock 1997, pp. 14–16, 21.</ref><ref>Richardson 1990, pp. 13–15.</ref>

During 1989, SABCA's involvement in the civil aviation sector received a significant boost via the first risk-sharing contract with the multinational aerospace conglomerate [[Airbus]].<ref name = "official history"/> It has since been a participant in all Airbus programmes, including the [[Airbus A380|A380]], the [[Airbus A400M Atlas|A400M Atlas]], and the [[Airbus A350 XWB|A350 XWB]]. SABCA also designs and manufactures subassemblies on behalf of other manufacturers, including [[Dassault Aviation]] and [[Gulfstream Aerospace]].<ref name = "official history"/> During 1992, demand for [[Composite material|composite]] components had grown to the point where a dedicated [[subsidiary]], ''SABCA Limburg'', was established to focus specifically on this activity.<ref name = "official history"/>


==Products==
==Products==
* [[SABCA Julien]] - Biplane
* [[SABCA-Julien SJ 1]] - Monoplane
* [[SABCA Castar]] - 1923 biplane
* [[Gambier-SABCA]]
* [[SABCA Castar]] - 1923 Monoplane, also known as the Poncelet Castar
* [[SABCA Camgul]] - 1925 single-engine biplane
* [[SABCA Camgul]] - 1925 single-engine biplane
* [[Airco DH.4]] - (15 built in 1926)
⚫
* [[Fokker F.VII|SABCA F.VII]] - license-built Fokker F.VII
* [[SABCA S.2]] - 1926 single-engine airliner
* [[SABCA S.2]] - 1926 single-engine airliner
* [[SABCA S.3]] - projected monoplane trimotor transport
* [[SABCA S.4]] - projected single-engine sesquiplane fighter
* [[SABCA S.11]] - 1931 trimotor airliner
* [[SABCA S.11]] - 1931 trimotor airliner
* [[SABCA S.12]]
* [[SABCA S.XII]] - 1931 trimotor feederliner; also known as S.12
* [[SABCA S.20]]
* [[SABCA S.13]] - projected army observation aircraft
* [[SABCA S.14]] - projected 1931 parasol-winged reconnaissance aircraft
⚫
* [[SABCA S.30]] - 1936<ref name="JAWA 38">Grey John C.G. & Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938''. Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. . London. 1938</ref>
* [[SABCA S.40]] - 1939 trainer
* [[SABCA S.20]] - 1935 cabin tourer with elliptical wings
⚫
* [[SABCA S.30]] - 1936 parasol-winged light aircraft<ref name="JAWA 38">Grey John C.G. & Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938''. Sampson Low, Marston & company, Ltd. . London. 1938.</ref>
⚫
* [[Caproni Ca.135|SABCA S.45]] - licence-built Caproni Ca.135
* [[Caproni Ca.310|SABCA S.46]] - licence-built Caproni Ca.310
* [[SABCA S.40]] - 1939 two-seat trainer
* [[SABCA S.42]] - projected 1938 two-seat fighter-trainer, scaled up, higher power version of S.40
⚫
* [[SABCA S.47]] - licence-built Caproni Ca.335
* [[Caproni Ca.312|SABCA S.48]] - licence-built Caproni Ca.312
* [[Caproni Ca.135|SABCA S.45]] - projected license-built Caproni Ca.135
* [[Caproni Ca.310|SABCA S.46]] - projected license-built Caproni Ca.310
⚫
* [[SABCA S.60]]<ref name="Sabca">{{cite web |url=http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/sabca.htm |title=SABCA aircraft |publisher=belgian-wings.be |date=22/08/08 14:09 |accessdate=2011-05-23}}</ref>
⚫
* [[Caproni Ca.335|SABCA S.47]] - license-built Caproni Ca.335
* [[Caproni Ca.313|SABCA S.48]] - projected license-built Caproni Ca.312; cancelled due to the [[German invasion of Belgium (1940)|Fall of Belgium]]
⚫
* [[SABCA S.60]]<ref name="Sabca">{{cite web |url=http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/sabca.htm |title=SABCA aircraft |publisher=belgian-wings.be |date=22 August 2008 |accessdate=23 May 2011}}</ref>
* [[Savoia-Marchetti S.73|SABCA S.73]] - license-built Savoia-Marchetti S.73


==Notes==
==Locations==
SABCA has operations in two locations:
{{reflist}}
⚫
* [[Haren Airport|Brussels]] - company headquarters and the main centre of operations.<ref name = "official history"/>
⚫
* [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]] - high-performance composite component [[manufacturing]] subsidiary opened in 1989.<ref name = "official history"/>


⚫
Before the merge with Sabena Engineering, SABCA also operated in [[Brussels South Charleroi Airport|Charleroi]]: [[military aircraft]] and [[helicopter]] maintenance, technical and logistic support to the customers, opened in 1955.<ref name = "official history"/>
==Refrerences==

{{refbegin}}
==References==
⚫
*Grey John C.G. & Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938''. Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. . London. 1938
===Citations===
*{{cite web |url=http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Belgian_Aviation_History/Industry/sabca.htm |title=SABCA aircraft |publisher=belgian-wings.be |date=22/08/08 14:09 |accessdate=2011-05-23}}
{{refend}}
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
⚫
* Grey John C.G. & Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938''. Sampson Low, Marston & company, Ltd. London. 1938.
* Jackson, A.J. ''De Havilland Aircraft since 1909''. London: Putnam, Third edition, 1987. {{ISBN|0-85177-802-X}}.
* Peacock, Lindsay. ''On Falcon Wings: The F-16 Story''. [[RAF Fairford]], United Kingdom: The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises, 1997. {{ISBN|1-899808-01-9}}.
* Richardson, Doug. ''General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon''. London: Salamander Books, 1990. {{ISBN|0-86101-534-7}}.
{{Refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.sabca.com SABCA]
* [http://www.sabca.com SABCA]
* {{PM20|FID=co/019416|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=}}


{{SABCA aircraft}}
{{SABCA aircraft}}
{{Aviation lists}}
{{Dassault Group}}
{{Dassault Group}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Societe Anonyme Belge De Constructions Aeronautiques}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Societe Anonyme Belge De Constructions Aeronautiques}}
[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of Belgium]]
[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of Belgium]]
[[Category:Dassault]]
[[Category:Dassault Group]]
[[Category:Belgian companies established in 1920]]

[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Brussels]]
{{aero-company-stub}}
[[Category:SABCA aircraft| ]]

Latest revision as of 14:44, 27 October 2023

Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques
SABCA
IndustryAerospace
Founded1920; 104 years ago (1920)
HeadquartersBrussels,
Belgium
ProductsAircraft
OwnersBlueberry
Number of employees
993 (2020)[1]
Websitesabca.be

SABCA (Sociétés Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques) is a Belgian aerospace company. Its main sectors of activity are civil aviation, space and defence.

SABCA was established during 1920. Presently, it is owned by the Belgian group Blueberry, itself owned by the Société Fédérale de Participations et d'Investissement (SFPIM) (a Belgian federal holding) and Sabena Aerospace.[2]

History[edit]

During 1920, SABCA was founded with the purpose of locally designing and building aircraft to satisfy Belgium's emerging aviation requirements.[1] Its first manufacturing site was adjacent to Haren Airport, in the suburbs of Brussels. During the Interwar period, the company produced a number of in-house designs, as well as engaging in the manufacture of both civil and military aircraft.[1] Throughout its existence, SABCA has been a prolific user of production licenses, which have authorised the firm to build other manufacturers' aircraft. During 1926, the company constructed a total 15 Airco DH.4 light bombers.[3]

While its operations were disrupted by the German occupation of Belgium during the Second World War, SABCA resumed operations shortly following the end of the conflict.[1] In 1955, a new manufacturing plant was opened at Charleroi Airport. Around this same period, SABCA became involved in early European space programmes; the firm would be involved in the production of Spacelab as well as both the Ariane and Vega expendable launch systems.[1] SABCA also cooperated with the Dutch manufacturer Fokker in the manufacture of its F27 Friendship and 50 short-haul airliners. Other civil programmes the firm was involved with include producing elements of the Dassault Mercure and VFW-Fokker 614 airliners.[1]

Throughout the postwar era, the company was involved in the manufacturing of large numbers of licensed aircraft as well as associated upgrade programmes; such aircraft included the Hawker Hunter, the Republic F-84 Thunderjet, the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, the Dassault Mirage 5, and the AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter.[1] During the 1970s and 1980s, SABCA was responsible for operating one of the two European production lines for the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon; a total of 164 aircraft would be manufactured at its Gosselies facility. The European co-production initiative was officially launched on 1 July 1977; under this arrangement, Fokker-produced components were delivered to General Dynamics' Fort Worth facility for fuselage assembly, which were then shipped back to Europe for final assembly of the aircraft at the SABCA's facility; deliveries to the Belgian Air Force started in January 1979. During the following year, SABCA commenced deliveries to the Royal Norwegian Air Force.[4][5]

During 1989, SABCA's involvement in the civil aviation sector received a significant boost via the first risk-sharing contract with the multinational aerospace conglomerate Airbus.[1] It has since been a participant in all Airbus programmes, including the A380, the A400M Atlas, and the A350 XWB. SABCA also designs and manufactures subassemblies on behalf of other manufacturers, including Dassault Aviation and Gulfstream Aerospace.[1] During 1992, demand for composite components had grown to the point where a dedicated subsidiary, SABCA Limburg, was established to focus specifically on this activity.[1]

Products[edit]

Locations[edit]

SABCA has operations in two locations:

Before the merge with Sabena Engineering, SABCA also operated in Charleroi: military aircraft and helicopter maintenance, technical and logistic support to the customers, opened in 1955.[1]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "About". SABCA. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Blueberry, nouveau groupe industriel belge dans l'industrie aéronautique et aérospatiale". Agoria (in French). 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  3. ^ Jackson 1987, p. 60.
  4. ^ Peacock 1997, pp. 14–16, 21.
  5. ^ Richardson 1990, pp. 13–15.
  6. ^ Grey John C.G. & Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. Sampson Low, Marston & company, Ltd. . London. 1938.
  7. ^ "SABCA aircraft". belgian-wings.be. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2011.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Grey John C.G. & Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. Sampson Low, Marston & company, Ltd. London. 1938.
  • Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, Third edition, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-802-X.
  • Peacock, Lindsay. On Falcon Wings: The F-16 Story. RAF Fairford, United Kingdom: The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises, 1997. ISBN 1-899808-01-9.
  • Richardson, Doug. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. London: Salamander Books, 1990. ISBN 0-86101-534-7.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SABCA&oldid=1182162197"