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The Karhumäki brothers (Finnish: Veljekset Karhumäki), consisting of Niilo (1902–1978) and Valto Karhumäki (1905–1985), were Finnish airline founder and aircraft manufacturer brothers.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Veljekset_Karhum%C3%A4ki_in_1927.jpg/220px-Veljekset_Karhum%C3%A4ki_in_1927.jpg)
Born in Multia, Finland in 1902 and 1905, Niilo and Valto Karhumäki moved to Jyväskylä,[when?] where they founded a company called Veljekset Karhumäki in late 1924, which dealt with pilot training, public displays, aircraft maintenance and aerial photography during the 1930s. In order to start a co-operation with the Finnish Air Force, the headquarters of Veljekset Karhumäki was moved to Kuorevesi. During World War II the company was merged into the Valtion lentokonetehdas company, manufacturer of a number of military aircraft. The Karhumäki brothers designed the Karhumäki Karhu 48B light airplane, of which a small number was produced during the 1950s.
In 1950, Karhumäki Airways was founded by Veljekset Karhumäki, an airline initially offering scheduled passenger flights on mostly domestic routes. In 1963, Aero O/Y (today's Finnair) acquired the majority of its stake, and in 1996 Karair (as it was known by then) was fully absorbed into Finnair.
The brothers have been honoured with a monument called Lentäjäveljestenaukio (which translates as "Pilot Brothers Square") in Halli .
References
edit- Ismo Tervonen: VELJEKSET KARHUMÄKI - Suomen ilmailun pioneereina 1924-1956 (Apali 2002) ISBN 952-5026-25-6
- Ismo Tervonen: KAR-AIR - tilauslentoliikenteen edelläkävijänä 1957-1980 (Apali 2004) ISBN 952-5026-40-X
- Ismo Tervonen: KARAIR - matkustajalentoliikenteen perinteiden vaalijana 1980-1996 (Apali 2007) ISBN 978-952-5026-64-1