Where was the Aviatik company founded?

Short answer

In Mülhausen, now in French territory, where the company was established in 1909. It was founded in December that year by the Alsatian Georges Chatel. It began producing licensed French Hanriot monoplanes and Farman biplanes. On 1 August 1914 it moved to Freiburg due to the French threat.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

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Mülhausen, 1909

The Aviatik company was established in Mülhausen, now in France, in 1909. It was founded in December of that year by the Alsatian Georges Chatel. It began by producing French aircraft under license: Hanriot monoplanes and Farman biplanes. From 1912 the factory began building its own, highly successful biplanes, designed by Robert Wild.

Two moves with the war

Just as the First World War began, on 1 August 1914, the company relocated to Freiburg due to the French threat. In 1916 it moved again, this time to new facilities in Leipzig-Heiterblick. It also established a subsidiary in Vienna under the name Österreichisch-Ungarische Flugzeugfabrik Aviatik.