Avionic Instruments history

After working as an engineer for various American aircraft makers, Northrop founded his first company, Avion Corporation, in 1928.

Northrop Grumman’s other line of heritage dates to 1929 when the American aeronautical engineer Leroy R. Grumman and two partners founded Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation.

In 1932 an unfavourable business situation prompted John Northrop to break with United Aircraft and Transport and form Northrop Corporation, with Douglas Aircraft Company holding 51 percent of the stock.

In 1937, following labour disputes, John Northrop parted with Douglas Aircraft.

Two years later Northrop reestablished his company as Northrop Aircraft, Inc., which he directed until his retirement in 1952.

In 1969 Grumman received a contract to build the carrier-based air-superiority fighter F-14 Tomcat.

1970 - Avionic Instruments was founded

The twin-engine, variable-wing aircraft, which entered service in 1973, became the West’s most advanced and costliest fighter of the time.

1975 – The company introduced its first inverter product

The first true “glass cockpit” was found in the Boeing 767 (1981). Since that time, electronic displays have progressed throughout aviation and may now be found even in light aircraft.

1985 – The first lightweight inverter and frequency converter were launched

Two years earlier Northrop had acquired 49 percent of the Vought Aircraft division of LTV (Ling-Temco-Vought) Corporation; in 1994 it bought the remaining portion.

1995 – Avionic Instruments brought its first Transformer Rectifier Unit (TRU) to market

2000 – The company established its Surface Mount Technology, broadening its manufacturing capabilities

2006 – Avionic Instruments acquired Flite-Tronics line of static inverters and power conversion devices

2009 – Acme Aerospace was acquired, adding to Avionic Instruments power generation and power storage capabilities