IRVIN-GQ

IrvinGQ, formerly known as Airborne Systems, is an aerospace manufacturing company based in Llangeinor, Wales, United Kingdom. It specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of a range of parachutes and emergency, rescue and survival equipment for both the military and civilian markets.

The company can trace its routes back to the Irvin Airchute Company, founded in 1919, and GQ Parachutes, 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 Second World War, developing safer and increasingly reliable parachute assemblies for aircrews and airborne forces; their parachutes were extensively used throughout the conflict. In the postwar period, both companies continued to advance their products into new fields, including their incorporation into ejector seats, the recovery of space vehicles, brake parachute, and the aerial delivery of very large payloads.

The Irvin Airchute Company was ultimately acquired by its long-time collaborator GQ Parachutes. During 2001, the merged entity was named IRVIN-GQ. Having changed ownership multiple times over the years, the company is presently a subsidiary of aerospace conglomerate TransDigm Group. Since 2003, IrvinGQ has based its main UK manufacturing site in Llangeinor, Wales.