1631:
283:, for the purpose of recovering out-of-control aircraft, became another application from the 1960s onwards. Since 1991, the company has operated a specialised outsourced service facility, the Airborne Forces Parachute Support Unit (AFPSU), which repairs, maintains and packs all of the parachutes and related equipment for
243:
period, particularly into non-personnel applications, such as the safe recovery of space vehicles and unmanned aircraft. The aerial delivery of very large and varied loads of equipment, enabled by effective arrangements of parachutes, was another frontier. The company has also produced compact
211:. By the end of the 1930s, both companies had become well established major suppliers of emergency escape parachutes to many air forces around the world. During 1940, GQ and Irvin collaborated on the X-Type parachute assembly, which provided a safe and reliable static line assembly for
230:
Both companies were able to maintain relevance following the end of the conflict; their products were adapted to suit the high-speed military aircraft that arrived during the 1950s and 1960s. Their parachutes were subsequently adopted by
British aviation firm
239:, including the very first use of such a seat. Over the decades, the company has become a world leader in the field of emergency escape parachutes. Both the capability and range of uses for parachutes expanded during the
141:, founded in 1932. Both firms had become key manufacturers of emergency escape parachutes by the end of the 1930s, selling their products to many air forces throughout the globe. The rival firms cooperated during the
389:, a company for design, development and manufacture of a wide range of systems for the aerial delivery of cargo, aerial material handling, personnel and cargo restraint and safety harnesses.
620:
321:. In December 2002, the company revealed a £5 million investment programme which included the creation of around 200 jobs, in addition to the relocation of its main UK production site from
29:
740:
1658:
578:
428:
200:(RAF) placed an order with the Irvin Airchute Company to supply parachutes for its aircrews. To fulfil this and future European orders, the firm established a factory in the
145:, developing safer and increasingly reliable parachute assemblies for aircrews and airborne forces; their parachutes were extensively used throughout the conflict. In the
351:. In January 2010, the company secured a £50 million contract to supply equipment to the French Ministry of Defence. In response to this deal, on 1 September 2013,
733:
355:, was established to provide technical and logistical repair, and support services for customers throughout continental Europe from the firm's new facility in
1673:
219:, being used by both aircrews and airborne forces alike, and for several decades after the war's end. One high-profile example of its use was during the
294:
The Irvin
Airchute Company was ultimately acquired by its long-time collaborator GQ Parachutes. During 1994, the company acquired and integrated with
1634:
726:
1445:
1668:
160:
The Irvin
Airchute Company was ultimately acquired by its long-time collaborator GQ Parachutes. During 2001, the merged entity was named
1688:
1211:
1678:
1567:
1562:
1557:
825:
1603:
749:
1618:
1051:
606:
244:
air-deployed survival kits; these have been integrated into various aircraft to support their crews in the event of ejection.
1653:
686:
563:
940:
164:. Having changed ownership multiple times over the years, the company is presently a subsidiary of aerospace conglomerate
765:
461:
298:, a specialist producer of survival equipment and aerial delivery platforms. During 2001, the merged entity was named
1593:
1663:
1572:
1420:
1233:
359:, France. By 2015, the firm was reportedly deriving over 50 per cent of its turnover from its export customers.
1430:
1425:
1161:
149:
period, both companies continued to advance their products into new fields, including their incorporation into
395:, a manufacturer of balloons, inflatable and fabric engineered products for the defence and aerospace markets.
1480:
1460:
1116:
760:
341:
1683:
1465:
1156:
1081:
858:
808:
284:
196:, who had performed the world's first free-fall parachute jump earlier that same year. During 1925, the
1613:
1383:
1223:
703:
193:
1318:
1186:
1136:
878:
579:"Irvin Aerospace selected for parachute systems for SpaceX Dragon capsule and its Falcon 9 launcher"
1500:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1171:
1151:
1141:
1041:
960:
345:
268:
207:
During 1932, James
Gregory and Raymond Quilter founded another pioneering parachute manufacturer,
1490:
1333:
1283:
1263:
1243:
1216:
1191:
264:
39:
1405:
1196:
975:
592:
1338:
1268:
1131:
890:
815:
1530:
1505:
1373:
1358:
1096:
1061:
965:
885:
718:
340:
During
September 2006, representatives from the company formed part of a trade mission to
8:
1395:
1363:
1248:
1166:
1086:
925:
910:
905:
318:
280:
260:
130:
and emergency, rescue and survival equipment for both the military and civilian markets.
1520:
1415:
1410:
1353:
1121:
1066:
1005:
1000:
935:
900:
267:(USAF) also adopted the company's braking parachutes for their aircraft, including the
220:
374:
systems, parachutes, aerial delivery and survival equipment, and associated services.
1525:
1475:
1440:
1181:
1146:
1126:
1020:
664:
363:
189:
621:"Bridgend-based parachute manufacturer Airborne Systems Europe to employ more staff"
1455:
1348:
1343:
1278:
1253:
1238:
1176:
1101:
1076:
1010:
970:
873:
830:
314:
252:
248:
154:
1535:
1515:
1450:
1378:
1328:
1323:
1111:
1091:
895:
367:
197:
165:
89:
1495:
1400:
1368:
995:
985:
868:
863:
793:
642:
492:
366:. During 2013, it again changed ownership, this time to aerospace conglomerate
337:. By late 2010, the Llangeinor facility reportedly employed around 250 people.
333:. Outside of the UK, IRVIN-GQ operates factories in both the United States and
256:
201:
123:
84:
1647:
1608:
1598:
1308:
1201:
1071:
465:
348:
276:
371:
1470:
1313:
1206:
1036:
945:
915:
848:
788:
288:
236:
232:
216:
150:
142:
1510:
1228:
1015:
820:
405:
1390:
1046:
330:
169:
115:
65:
28:
1588:
853:
798:
541:
322:
212:
127:
126:. It specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of a range of
251:; Irvin has supplied these for numerous RAF aircraft, including the
1485:
1273:
980:
687:"Floating decoy seducts, distracts and confuses [IDEX19D3]"
356:
326:
306:; however, during 2018, the company readopted its previous name of
240:
224:
362:
During 2010, IRVIN-GQ was sold to
American private equity company
168:. Since 2003, IrvinGQ has based its main UK manufacturing site in
1435:
1258:
990:
955:
950:
840:
803:
146:
714:
Aerial
Delivery Equipment: Cargo Parachutes: Military Parachutes
334:
713:
708:
542:"Our Story: Celebrating 100 Years of Saving Lives 1919 – 2019"
1056:
173:
119:
69:
748:
1106:
836:
272:
99:
215:. This model was mass-produced throughout the rest of the
920:
1659:
Aircraft component manufacturers of the United
Kingdom
370:. By 2020, the company's core products included naval
227:
made extensive use of the X-Type parachute assembly.
607:"Irvin-GQ parachutes in 53 new jobs at second plant"
223:, the delivery of the advance airborne units over
157:, and the aerial delivery of very large payloads.
114:, is an aerospace manufacturing company based in
1645:
1446:Port Victoria Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot
536:
534:
532:
530:
456:
454:
452:
450:
448:
446:
429:"Parachute firm wins £50m deal to supply France"
564:"Parachute promises to make Mars landing safer"
528:
526:
524:
522:
520:
518:
516:
514:
512:
510:
709:Search and Rescue Equipment - Airborne Systems
734:
443:
133:The company can trace its routes back to the
507:
1674:Manufacturing companies established in 1932
382:Co-located at Llangeinor with IrvinGQ are:
741:
727:
27:
1568:Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
1563:Defence Electronics and Components Agency
576:
487:
485:
483:
247:Another market for their products was as
750:Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom
423:
421:
595:. Flight International. 16 August 1995.
566:. Flight International. 31 August 2004.
377:
188:, which was established during 1919 in
16:British aerospace manufacturing company
1646:
1619:Society of British Aerospace Companies
1052:Air Navigation and Engineering Company
480:
1669:British companies established in 1932
722:
613:
418:
766:Manufacturing in the United Kingdom
13:
464:. Airborne Systems. Archived from
313:During 2000, IRVIN-GQ was sold to
153:, the recovery of space vehicles,
14:
1700:
1689:Parachuting in the United Kingdom
1594:Farnborough International Airshow
697:
643:"Morgan in Chinese trade mission"
493:"Parachute firm in job expansion"
1679:Manufacturing companies of Wales
1630:
1629:
609:. Wales Online. 25 January 2002.
79:Emergency and survival equipment
1573:European Aviation Safety Agency
1426:Nieuport & General Aircraft
1421:National Aircraft Factory No. 2
679:
657:
635:
577:Coppinger, Rob (9 April 2007).
431:. Wales Online. 21 January 2010
302:. In 2007, it was rebranded as
184:IrvinGQ has its origins in the
1431:Norman Thompson Flight Company
1162:British Aircraft Manufacturing
623:. Wales Online. 9 January 2009
599:
585:
570:
556:
1:
1481:Seaplane Experimental Station
1461:Rollason Aircraft and Engines
1212:Aeronautical Technical School
1117:William Beardmore and Company
761:Economy of the United Kingdom
411:
1654:1932 establishments in Wales
1466:Royal Aircraft Establishment
1157:British Aircraft Corporation
1082:Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft
393:Advanced Inflatable Products
7:
859:British Airways Engineering
809:Surrey Satellite Technology
495:. BBC News. 5 December 2002
399:
10:
1705:
1614:Royal Aeronautical Society
1224:Desoutter Aircraft Company
1187:Clayton & Shuttleworth
689:. Janes. 19 February 2019.
645:. BBC News. 11 August 2004
387:Aircraft Materials Limited
179:
1627:
1581:
1548:
1319:Hants and Sussex Aviation
1234:Dunlop Standard Aerospace
1137:Bristol Aeroplane Company
1029:
781:
774:
756:
95:
83:
75:
61:
53:
45:
35:
26:
1558:Civil Aviation Authority
1501:Sopwith Aviation Company
1304:Gloster Aircraft Company
1299:General Electric Company
1289:Garland Aircraft Company
1172:Central Aircraft Company
1152:British Aircraft Company
1142:British Aerial Transport
1042:Abbott-Baynes Sailplanes
346:First Minister for Wales
269:Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
1664:Bridgend County Borough
1491:SELEX Sistemi Integrati
1364:Lindstrand Technologies
1334:Heston Aircraft Company
1284:Foster, Wikner Aircraft
1264:Fairey Aviation Company
1244:Edgar Percival Aircraft
1192:Comper Aircraft Company
581:. Flight International.
265:United States Air Force
137:, founded in 1919, and
49:Aerospace Manufacturing
40:Private Limited Company
1406:Moss Brothers Aircraft
1339:Hewlett & Blondeau
1197:Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft
976:Safran Landing Systems
826:Military Air Solutions
296:Aircraft Materials Ltd
285:The Parachute Regiment
275:also used them on its
186:Irvin Airchute Company
135:Irvin Airchute Company
1374:M. B. Arpin & Co.
1269:Fane Aircraft Company
1132:Boulton Paul Aircraft
891:Dunlop Aircraft Tyres
816:Babcock International
1531:Westland Helicopters
1359:Lakes Flying Company
1097:Austin Motor Company
1062:The Airscrew Company
378:Associated companies
281:Ballistic parachutes
110:, formerly known as
1684:Military parachutes
1416:Nash & Thompson
1411:D. Napier & Son
1396:Matra Marconi Space
1249:Elliotts of Newbury
926:Hybrid Air Vehicles
911:GE Aviation Systems
906:General Dynamics UK
901:Finmeccanica UK Ltd
593:"Strive to survive"
319:private equity firm
261:Eurofighter Typhoon
235:for their range of
192:by the parachutist
23:
1521:Vickers-Armstrongs
1441:Parnall & Sons
1384:Electronic Systems
1354:Kingsbury Aviation
1127:Boulton & Paul
1122:Blackburn Aircraft
1067:Airship Industries
1006:Thales Air Defence
941:Marshall Aerospace
936:Lockheed Martin UK
879:Technical Services
804:Astrium Satellites
468:on 27 October 2010
21:
1641:
1640:
1551:regulatory bodies
1544:
1543:
1526:Westland Aircraft
1476:Scottish Aviation
1182:Chrislea Aircraft
1147:British Aerospace
1021:Ultra Electronics
854:Boeing Defence UK
667:. TransDigm Group
364:Metalmark Capital
190:Buffalo, New York
105:
104:
1696:
1633:
1632:
1506:Spartan Aircraft
1456:Reid and Sigrist
1349:Hunting Aircraft
1344:Hordern-Richmond
1294:General Aircraft
1279:Folland Aircraft
1254:English Electric
1177:Chilton Aircraft
1102:Aviation Traders
1077:Airwork Services
1011:Thales Optronics
961:Reaction Engines
831:Eurofighter GmbH
779:
778:
743:
736:
729:
720:
719:
704:Official Website
691:
690:
683:
677:
676:
674:
672:
661:
655:
654:
652:
650:
639:
633:
632:
630:
628:
617:
611:
610:
603:
597:
596:
589:
583:
582:
574:
568:
567:
560:
554:
553:
551:
549:
538:
505:
504:
502:
500:
489:
478:
477:
475:
473:
458:
441:
440:
438:
436:
425:
353:IrvinGQ (France)
344:led by the then
329:to neighbouring
315:Alchemy Partners
304:Airborne Systems
253:BAE Systems Hawk
249:brake parachutes
217:Second World War
143:Second World War
112:Airborne Systems
31:
24:
20:
1704:
1703:
1699:
1698:
1697:
1695:
1694:
1693:
1644:
1643:
1642:
1637:
1623:
1577:
1550:
1540:
1536:J. Samuel White
1451:Lang Propellers
1379:Marconi Company
1329:Hawker Siddeley
1324:Hawker Aircraft
1112:Beagle Aircraft
1025:
1001:Telespazio VEGA
896:Europa Aircraft
770:
752:
747:
700:
695:
694:
685:
684:
680:
670:
668:
663:
662:
658:
648:
646:
641:
640:
636:
626:
624:
619:
618:
614:
605:
604:
600:
591:
590:
586:
575:
571:
562:
561:
557:
547:
545:
540:
539:
508:
498:
496:
491:
490:
481:
471:
469:
460:
459:
444:
434:
432:
427:
426:
419:
414:
402:
380:
368:TransDigm Group
198:Royal Air Force
182:
166:TransDigm Group
155:brake parachute
90:TransDigm Group
17:
12:
11:
5:
1702:
1692:
1691:
1686:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1639:
1638:
1628:
1625:
1624:
1622:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1585:
1583:
1582:Related topics
1579:
1578:
1576:
1575:
1570:
1565:
1560:
1554:
1552:
1549:Government and
1546:
1545:
1542:
1541:
1539:
1538:
1533:
1528:
1523:
1518:
1513:
1508:
1503:
1498:
1496:Siddeley-Deasy
1493:
1488:
1483:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1401:Miles Aircraft
1398:
1393:
1388:
1387:
1386:
1376:
1371:
1369:Luton Aircraft
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1220:
1219:
1214:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1087:Arrow Aircraft
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1054:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1033:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1024:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
996:Swift Aircraft
993:
988:
986:Short Brothers
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
882:
881:
871:
869:Chemring Group
866:
864:Britten-Norman
861:
856:
851:
846:
845:
844:
834:
828:
818:
813:
812:
811:
801:
796:
794:AgustaWestland
791:
785:
783:
776:
772:
771:
769:
768:
763:
757:
754:
753:
746:
745:
738:
731:
723:
717:
716:
711:
706:
699:
698:External links
696:
693:
692:
678:
656:
634:
612:
598:
584:
569:
555:
506:
479:
442:
416:
415:
413:
410:
409:
408:
401:
398:
397:
396:
390:
379:
376:
257:SEPECAT Jaguar
221:D-Day Landings
202:United Kingdom
181:
178:
124:United Kingdom
103:
102:
97:
93:
92:
87:
81:
80:
77:
73:
72:
63:
59:
58:
55:
51:
50:
47:
43:
42:
37:
33:
32:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1701:
1690:
1687:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1651:
1649:
1636:
1626:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1609:ParcAberporth
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1599:NATS Holdings
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1586:
1584:
1580:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1555:
1553:
1547:
1537:
1534:
1532:
1529:
1527:
1524:
1522:
1519:
1517:
1514:
1512:
1509:
1507:
1504:
1502:
1499:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1486:SELEX Galileo
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1385:
1382:
1381:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1309:Grahame-White
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1209:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1202:Dart Aircraft
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1167:BTR Aerospace
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1028:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
886:Draken Europe
884:
880:
877:
876:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
842:
838:
835:
832:
829:
827:
824:
823:
822:
819:
817:
814:
810:
807:
806:
805:
802:
800:
797:
795:
792:
790:
787:
786:
784:
780:
777:
773:
767:
764:
762:
759:
758:
755:
751:
744:
739:
737:
732:
730:
725:
724:
721:
715:
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
701:
688:
682:
666:
660:
644:
638:
622:
616:
608:
602:
594:
588:
580:
573:
565:
559:
543:
537:
535:
533:
531:
529:
527:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
515:
513:
511:
494:
488:
486:
484:
467:
463:
457:
455:
453:
451:
449:
447:
430:
424:
422:
417:
407:
404:
403:
394:
391:
388:
385:
384:
383:
375:
373:
369:
365:
360:
358:
354:
350:
349:Rhodri Morgan
347:
343:
338:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
311:
309:
305:
301:
297:
292:
290:
286:
282:
278:
277:Space Shuttle
274:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
245:
242:
238:
237:ejector seats
234:
228:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
209:GQ Parachutes
205:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
177:
175:
171:
167:
163:
158:
156:
152:
151:ejector seats
148:
144:
140:
139:GQ Parachutes
136:
131:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
101:
98:
94:
91:
88:
86:
82:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
41:
38:
34:
30:
25:
19:
1471:Saunders-Roe
1314:Handley Page
1207:de Havilland
1037:ADC Aircraft
946:Martin-Baker
930:
916:GFS Projects
849:BBA Aviation
789:AD Aerospace
681:
669:. Retrieved
659:
647:. Retrieved
637:
625:. Retrieved
615:
601:
587:
572:
558:
546:. Retrieved
497:. Retrieved
470:. Retrieved
466:the original
462:"Milestones"
433:. Retrieved
392:
386:
381:
361:
352:
339:
312:
307:
303:
299:
295:
293:
289:British Army
246:
233:Martin-Baker
229:
213:paratroopers
208:
206:
194:Leslie Irvin
185:
183:
161:
159:
138:
134:
132:
111:
107:
106:
62:Headquarters
36:Company type
18:
1511:Supermarine
1229:Dowty Group
1016:TUI Airways
966:Rolls-Royce
821:BAE Systems
671:29 February
649:20 November
627:20 November
548:29 February
499:20 November
472:21 November
435:20 November
406:Paratrooper
100:irvingq.com
1648:Categories
1391:Martinsyde
1217:Propellers
1047:ABC Motors
839:(37.5% as
544:. IRVIN-GQ
412:References
331:Llangeinor
170:Llangeinor
128:parachutes
116:Llangeinor
66:Llangeinor
1589:ADS Group
1239:ED Abbott
799:Airbus UK
775:Companies
665:"IrvinGQ"
323:Blackmill
204:in 1926.
1635:Category
1274:Ferranti
1072:Airspeed
981:Selex ES
931:IRVIN-GQ
400:See also
357:Toulouse
327:Bridgend
300:IRVIN-GQ
241:Cold War
225:Normandy
162:IRVIN-GQ
76:Products
46:Industry
1516:Vickers
1436:Parnall
1259:Euravia
1030:Defunct
991:Skyrora
956:Qinetiq
951:Meggitt
841:MBDA UK
782:Current
308:IrvinGQ
287:of the
180:History
147:postwar
108:IrvinGQ
96:Website
54:Founded
22:IrvinGQ
1604:NDI UK
1092:Auster
874:Cobham
335:Canada
263:. The
85:Parent
1057:Airco
971:Rotol
833:(33%)
372:decoy
342:China
174:Wales
120:Wales
70:Wales
1107:Avro
837:MBDA
673:2020
651:2010
629:2010
550:2020
501:2010
474:2010
437:2010
317:, a
273:NASA
259:and
57:1919
921:GKN
325:in
1650::
509:^
482:^
445:^
420:^
310:.
291:.
279:.
271:;
255:,
176:.
172:,
122:,
118:,
68:,
843:)
742:e
735:t
728:v
675:.
653:.
631:.
552:.
503:.
476:.
439:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
