ATLAS AIRCRAFT CORPORATION OF SOUTH AFRICA (PTY.) LTD.

SOUTH AFRICA

Registered as a private company at Kempton Park, Transvaal, in 1964 to establish an aircraft industry in South Africa, jointly with the Industrial Development Corporation. Completed manufacture of Impala (M.B.326M) under Aermacchi license. Developed C4M Kudu utility STOL light transport, first flown February 1974. First flew in 1986 its Cheetah multirole fighter, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft conversion of the Mirage III for the SAAF, allowing initial operational capability in 1987. ACE all-composite turboprop trainer first flew April 1991 but later canceled. Developed Rooivalk attack helicopter, Puma gunship, and Oryx. Company also held marketing rights for several foreign aircraft and undertook extensive maintenance and overhaul work for SAAF. Merged with Simera (q.v.) in April 1996 under new Denel Aviation (q.v.) name, having been a division of Denel (Pty) Ltd. within the latter's Aerospace Group.


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