The stand of the Hellenic Aviation Industry at the 86th Thessaloniki International Exhibition held its inauguration today, presenting the company’s innovations, know-how and wide range of activities.
The impressive areas of the pavilion were toured by the Chiefs of General Staff Vice-Captain (I) Themistocles Bourolias, General Staff General Charalambos Lalousis and General Vice-Admiral Stylianos Petrakis PN, who expressed their satisfaction with EAB’s achievements which have made it one of the most competitive European companies in the aeronautics sector.
The replica of the first Greek drone on a scale of 1:2.5, which is hosted in the EAB exhibition area, attracted the attention of thousands of TIF visitors. It is the latest technology UAV of the “Archytas” program, a hybrid wing type aircraft, with a design that differs from all other UAVs, as it has VTOL (vertical take off and landing).
The VTOL UAV of the “Archytas” program is based on a fixed-wing platform of the large-scale tactical UAV class. To date, the configuration of the UAV’s fuselage and its propulsion has been completed. Internal positioning of electronic systems, payload, fuel tank, VTOL auxiliary systems, etc. has also been done. The design is expected to be completed in November, while the construction of the first experimental model will begin in December. The implementation of the program is expected in about a year and a half. For its construction, EAB collaborates with three Universities, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Democritus University of Thrace and the University of Thessaly.
The F-16 aircraft forward section (Forward Section of Aft Fuselage) is also on display at the AAB stand, while in the TIF exhibition area the comprehensive training programs of the AAB covering the entire range of skills in the field of aviation maintenance are presented in detail (aircraft & helicopters, A/C engines, electronics), special courses (structural repair, welding techniques), procedures, management, quality courses, etc. EAB is a reservoir of knowledge for thousands of young people from Greece and abroad who are trained in its facilities.
The president of the Hellenic Aviation Industry, Mr. Ioannis Koutras, the Managing Director, Mr. Dimitrios Papakostas and the members of the Board of Directors of the company welcomed the Minister of Development, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, the Deputy Minister of Development, Mr. Nikos Papathanasis, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and the Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikos Hardalia, as well as a number of government officials.
In the context of the TIF, the Managing Director Mr. Dimitris Papakostas and the company’s executives will hold meetings with diplomatic delegations and counterparts of foreign countries, which aim to conclude new contracts for the benefit of the ODA and Defense of the country.
The exhibition space of the Hellenic Aviation Industry is located in Stand 13 (of the Honored Country of the United Arab Emirates) Stand 1. Visitors will have the opportunity until September 18 to be informed about all the innovative applications of the Hellenic Aviation Industry.
