Our history
Tidslinje
2018 –
The founder of the company John Holstein, decided after 50 years to retire. A beautiful sunny day in May 2018, he was celebrated with an airshow containing aerobatics, helicopters, parachutes, live jazz, hot dogs and bubbles. Certainly, a memorable day to terminate an active and innovative life in aviation business.
The show must go on, and new innovations dawned in 2018 and 2019. The Lite Flite quick release box, QRB was upgraded from mk-4 into mk-5 containing new safety features.
Also our series of harnesses for rescue men were upgraded into the next generation 1493-series, featuring some ingenious details to ease the daily work for the rescue men.
2014 – 2017
Having the large helicopter manufacturers among our customers, we do not always know where in the world our equipment is used. One morning in 2014 the phone rang. It was a colonel from a North African country, who would like to express his gratitude for the safe and easy way our equipment was to work with. Their new rescue helicopter was delivered equipped with Lite Flite gear, ready for immediate use.
2015 we reached an important milestone as Lite Flite was awarded the EN9100/AS9100 approval which is the basis for manufacturing products for the aeronautic-, space- and defence industry. In laymans terms, EN9100 is a huge upgrade of the well known ISO9001 quality management standard.
2016 we doubled the area and modernized our factory facilities with top modern machinery for our skilled staff. Also, we designed the new PQR: Personal Quick Release enabling the helicopter crew to release themselves in case of emergency – even under tension.
2017 we welcomed our new CEO. Thomas Knudstrup succeeded Søs Holstein in this important position. Thomas holds a B.Sc. in engineering and has been connected to Lite Flite for many years. His innovative and constructive way of leading the company is highly valued and will be beneficial for many years to come.
2010 – 2013
We designed and produced our new harness for helicopter rescue men. A very comfortable harness without shoulder straps, but constructed in a way that locks on to the hips preventing a slip through in case of an upside down position. 2011 the new lanyard system was added. Using this system the crew members can operate safely in the helicopter with the door open. No extra gunner belt is necessary.
Early 2013 we achieved EC type certification of the equipment in accordance with the EC Commisions PPE Direktive, simply because we were able to predict, that these rules would form the basis of the coming EASA rules of this area.
2004 – 2009
2004 LITE FLITE was approved EASA Part-145 Maintenance Facility. This year international SAR show in Brighton, UK lead to several new international SAR customers. 2005 we designed the “Split-Seat-Alpine” harness for helicopter rescue men. Safety and more comfort.
2006 we designed the “Sling-Safe-Strap” for external human sling loads under helicopters. This year we exhibited outside Europe at the SAR Pacific show at the Gold Coast in Australia.
2007 we designed the QRT17 rotary buckle for aircraft pilot harness. This year we also produced and introduced the “Frank-1” light weight stretcher for helicopter rescue.
2008 John Holstein celebrated 40 years business anniversary. This year we designed the Quick Release Box Mk-3 adding several safety related features. Exhibiting in Africa at the AAD Military Show in Cape Town. 2009 enlarging and modernizing our facilities at EKVD, Vamdrup.
1995 – 2003
1995 LITE FLITE became approved JAR-145 maintenance facility. This year we also designed the “Triple-S System” (Self Securing System) for helicopter rescue sling strops. This unique system allowes the rescued person to secure himself during the hoist ride to the helicopter holding handgrips at the same time. During the rescue operations at the ESTONIA disaster in 1994 an incident with an unconscious patient was experienced. Half way between the waves and the helicopter she gained consciousness and reached for the cable to have something to hold on to. By doing so she raised her arms above 90 degrees and slipped out of the strop dropping back into the sea. That incident gave us the idea to create the Triple-S System where 2 red handles connected to a slider are right in front of the persons eyes. It is not nescessary to lift the arms above 90 degrees to reach and pull them to secure oneself.
1995 we designed the QUICK RELEASE BOX Mk-1 which is the connection between the helicopter and the rescue man. It is a maintenance free QRB in stainless steel. The QRB is a very important detail in the rescue equipment. Because it is able to open under tension, the rescue man can release himself in an emergency situation not to jeopardize the helicopter. If a single hoist helicopter crew is forced to cut the cable, the helicopter cannot come back to rescue neither the rescue man nor the victim.
1998 we designed the QRB Mk-2 and were pleased to count several international SAR units among our customers. 1998 John Holstein celebrated 30 years business anniversary. This year we commenced exhibiting the LITE FLITE rescue equipment internationally. 1999 we designed the ResQ-1 fall arrest harness. 2000 the EASY ROLLER system for loading parcels on cargo aircraft was born. 2002 we designed the SLIMFIT Mk-5 emergency parachute for glider pilots. 2003 we participated in international A+A show in Düsseldorf, Germany.
1989 – 1994
1989 we moved into larger and better facilities at Kolding Airport, EKVD, in Vamdrup, Jutland. Because our activities became more and more aircraft related, we changed the company name into LITE FLITE.
We represented the German aircraft factory STRATOS and for a number of years we sold the very nice full compisite one man motor glider STRATOS 300. Due to the very low weight it was able to register as Ultra Light aircraft. Unfortunately the German factory went bankrupt, and we had to cease this activity.
1983 – 1988
Being a member of the Parachutes de France Group we moved into larger and better facilities close to Roskilde Airport, EKRK. 1983 we were approved from the Danish Civil Aviation authorities to make seat belts and cargo nets for aircraft.
Apart from our main activities with parachutes and seat belts, we designed and manufactured a large number of brake chutes for wind turbine wings. These small and very strong brake chutes were approved by the Norwegian Veritas and installed in thousands of wind turbines world wide. At high velocity the brake chutes popped out from the rear side of the wing tip preventing the wind turbine from spinning out of control.
1985 we designed the SLIMFIT Mk-3 and Mk-4 emergency parachutes.
1978 – 1982
The sole Scandinavian agency for Parachutes de France lead to the change of company name into SCAN PARA. Rapidly we grew to be the leading supplier of parachutes and related equipment i Scandinavia, having the skydivers as well as associations and governments as our customers.
1978 we designed the SLIMFIT Mk-2 emergency parachute. 1979 we received the first large order for emergency equipment for the Danish Air Force.
1968 – 1977
Company was founded in 1968 by John Holstein as a one-man operation at the shores of beautiful Roskilde Fiord. Holstein Marketing was the name and apart from manufacturing spray hoods and covers for the local boat owners, we represented a number of overseas factories for parachutes and related products.
After a technical course at the parachute facilities of the British Army at Netheravon Military Airfield, the production of more safety related items was intensivated, including straps and belts for the Military. 1976 the SLIMFIT Mk-1 emergency parachute for glider pilots was designed.