In 1956, four engineers from
General Mills Applied Sciences
Division moved to Sioux Falls, SD
 and formed Raven Industries
which is Aerostar International's
parent company.

Aerostar International today contains
all of Raven Industries original
manufacturing lines and several
additional manufacturing lines.

Pictured at right is a specially
designed ordnance chute which
fulfilled two functions:
deceleration and arming.

The military product lines we continue
to manufacture today are parachutes,
decoys and training devices, tethered
blimps and aerostats and
customized inflatables.

Our 100%, domestic, contract sewing
plants have a reputation for delivering
product on time, in spec and at
a great value.

To learn more of our extensive parachute manufacturing history
and what our manufacturing
capabilities include, you need to
visit our Military Parachutes page.

The Tethered Blimp or Aerostat,
is one of the very first
manufacturing product lines
for the company and we have
50 years of experience
manufacturing tethered blimps.

Unique needs require a
Customized Inflatable. 
These can be a cold
air inflatable, helium /
airtight inflatable or a
combination of the two
manufacturing processes.