The AUTOFLUG Story
Gerhard Sedlmayr (1891-1952)
An aviator started the company: Aviation pioneer Gerhard Sedlmayr was a pilot trainee of the Brothers Wright and a record holder
non-stop flight record
Gerhard Sedlmayr succeededto make an over six hours long non-stop flight at the Johannisthaler Herbstflugwoche in 1913.
The foundation of AUTOFLUG
In 1st October 1919 Gerhard Sedlmayr founded his “Spezialhaus für das AUTOmobil und FLUGwesen, AUTOFLUG” in Berlin-Johannisthal – the cradle of German aviation
Cooperation with IRVIN
Cooperation with IRVIN starts, as a result of which AUTOFLUG develops into the leading manufacturer of rescue chutes in Germany
Innovation and growth
In 1931, AUTOFLUG began the manufacture of parachute systems under the licence of IRVIN and Introduced the unique AUTOFLUG Quick Release Connector. Within the next years, AUTOFLUG grew to one of the leading manufacturers of rescue parachutes in Germany
Reconstruction
In 1955, Dr. med. Gerhard Sedlmayr – who was the son of the company´s founder and who had a medical doctor´s degree – began to reconstruct the company in Hamburg after the Second World War
Move to Rellingen
In 1958, the company´s headquarters moved to Rellingen in the North-German state of Schleswig-Holstein
The Introduction of Martin-Baker Ejection Seats in Germany
During the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA 1958 in Hannover, AUTOFLUG employee Rolf Bullwinkel ejected himself at zero altitude by means of a Martin-Baker ejection seat. Since 1958, AUTOFLUG has been performing repair and maintenance for Martin-Baker ejection seats in Germany as well as has been manufacturing under licence components and…
The closeness to Sir James Martin
The friendship between Dr. med. Gerhard Sedlmayr and Sir James Martin (company founder and chief designer of Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd., U.K.) proves to be ground breaking for further AUTOFLUG development
German STARFIGHTER Fleet with Martin-Baker Ejection Seats
In 1968, all STARFIGHTER F-104 G of the Bundeswehr were converted to fully-automatic Martin-Baker ejection seats type MkGQ7A in a combined efort of AUTOFLUG and Martin-Baker. Some 900 STARFIGHTER aircraft were converted within an enormously tight schedule that could be met only because a trained team with long years of…
Safety seats for helicopters
Start of development and production of safety systems for helicopters
Fuel measuring and control systems
Start of development of fuel measuring and control systems
Protective equipment
Start of development of protective equipment for aircraft crews
Textile safety seats
Start of development of textitle safety seats for military land vehicles
Cabin Solutions
Since 2006 AUTOFLUG develops modular equipment concepts for aircraft cabins
A400M
Start of series production of safety seat system for the A400M transport aircraft program
Gerhard Sedlmayr Lecture Course
See a lecture given by Andreas Sedlmayr, full of remarkable moments from 100 years of flying history – with emotional moments and a lot of smiles. You can find videos from the evening at the video link: www.autoflug.net/GS
100 Years of AUTOFLUG
AUTOFLUG has turned 100 years, because Gerhard Sedlmayr founded his “AUTOFLUG, Spezialhaus für das AUTOmobil- und FLUGwesen, Gerhard Sedlmayr” company on October 10, 1919. The anniversary party bound by the motto „A CENTURY OF THINKING SAFETY“ was on 25th of October 2019.
