Finsterwalder

{{Short description|German aircraft manufacturer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}

{{About|the German aircraft manufacturer}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Finsterwalder GmbH

| logo = Finsterwalder logo 2012.png

| type = Private company

| genre =

| foundation = 1974

| founder = Thomas Finsterwalder

| location_city = Munich

| location_country = Germany

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| industry = Aerospace

| products = Hang gliders, Paragliders and accessories

| services =

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| divisions = Charly-Products

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| homepage = [http://www.finsterwalder-charly.de www.finsterwalder-charly.de]

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}}

Finsterwalder GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer specializing in hang gliders, paragliders and related accessories. The company is headquartered in Munich.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 44. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X

Most of the company's hang glider designs are intended to be folded down to a small size for man-packing up mountains.

Finsterwalder GmbH is made up of two divisions. The headquarters is in Munich and focuses on hang glider design, production and repair along with helmet design and production. Charly Products is located in Seeg and produces paragliders, harnesses and rescue systems.{{cite web|url = http://www.finsterwalder-charly.de/en/about-us.html|title = About Us|accessdate = 17 February 2012|last = Finsterwalder|year = 2011}}

History

The company was formed in 1974 by Thomas Finsterwalder as a kayak design and production enterprise. The first hang glider designed and produced was the Finsterwalder Bergfex ({{langx|en|Mountain Freak}}), which weighed {{convert|11|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and could be broken down in 8 minutes to a package {{convert|1.80|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} long for ground transport.

In 1985 the factory and all equipment were destroyed by a fire, delaying production until the following year.

File:Charly Products Logo 2012.png

In 1990 the company bought out Charly Products adding paragliders and parachute systems to the company line. Since the take-over the company has done business as Finsterwalder & Charly. In 1994 Charly started a partnership with Nova Paragliders.

Aircraft

class="wikitable" align=center style="font-size:90%;"
+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"| Summary of aircraft built by Finsterwalder
style="background:#efefef;"

! Model name

! First flight

! Number built

! Type

align=left| Finsterwalder Airfex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Bergfex

|align=center|

|align=center| 300+

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Funfex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Jetfex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Lightfex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Minifex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Perfex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Skyfex

|align=center|

|align=center| 6 prototypes only

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Speedfex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Superfex

|align=center|

|align=center| 680

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Topfex

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| hang glider

align=left| Finsterwalder Windfex

|align=center|

|align=center| 900

|align=left| hang glider

References

{{Reflist}}