Let Kunovice
Encyclopedia
Aircraft Industries, a.s., operating as Let Kunovice, is a Czech
(formerly Czechoslovak
) civil aircraft
manufacturer. Its most successful design has been the L-410 Turbolet, of which more than 1000 units have been built. Its head office is in Kunovice, Uherské Hradiště District
.
industrial concern. Before and during World War II
the unfinished plant served only as a repair works. After the end of the war the factory was nationalized and in 1950-53 a new plant was built. In 1957-1967 it was named SPP (Strojírny první pětiletky - "Works of the First Five-year Plan"), and in 1967 it returned to the name LET. The works produced under licence were the Soviet trainers Yakovlev Yak-11
(under a designation C-11) and the Aero Ae 45 and Aero Ae 145 utility aircraft.
In 1957 the company began to develop the L-200 Morava
light utility aircraft and four years later the Z-37 Cmelak
agricultural aircraft, which were both a commercial success. For a period of time LET also produced a jet training aircraft the L-29
.
Over the years LET developed and produced gliders–Zlín Z 22, Z 124 Galánka, LF 109 Pioneer, Z 425 Šohaj. However the most popular gliders produced by LET are the Blaníks–L-13 Blaník
, L-23 Super Blaník
and L-33 Solo
.
During the 1960s LET’s engineers developed a 19 seat commuter turboprop – the L-410 Turbolet, of which more than 1100 were produced. This popular aircraft went through a number of improvements and modernisations and the latest types, the L 410 UVP-E20 and L 420 are EASA and FAA certified respectively.
The Let L-610
was produced in a prototype form and displayed at the Paris Airshow. Production was cancelled due to lack of funding, and in October 2007 all but one of the working prototypes were destroyed in the factory to prevent their use.
The all-metal Blaník sailplane was produced in the largest quantities of any sailplane, with over 3000 manufactured since the first rolled off the production line in 1958. In 2005 it was still in production as the L23 Super Blaník
variant.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
(formerly Czechoslovak
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
) civil aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
manufacturer. Its most successful design has been the L-410 Turbolet, of which more than 1000 units have been built. Its head office is in Kunovice, Uherské Hradiště District
Uherské Hradište District
Uherské Hradiště District is one of four districts within Zlín Region of the Czech Republic...
.
History
Building of an aircraft factory in Kunovice started in 1936, as a part of the Škoda WorksŠkoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
industrial concern. Before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the unfinished plant served only as a repair works. After the end of the war the factory was nationalized and in 1950-53 a new plant was built. In 1957-1967 it was named SPP (Strojírny první pětiletky - "Works of the First Five-year Plan"), and in 1967 it returned to the name LET. The works produced under licence were the Soviet trainers Yakovlev Yak-11
Yakovlev Yak-11
|-See also:-References:* Gordon, Yefim, Dmitry Komissarov and Sergey Komissarov. OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1 85780 203 9....
(under a designation C-11) and the Aero Ae 45 and Aero Ae 145 utility aircraft.
In 1957 the company began to develop the L-200 Morava
Let L-200 Morava
|-See also:-References:*Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1966.* at Ugolok Neba site -External links:** at Flying revue magazine *...
light utility aircraft and four years later the Z-37 Cmelak
Zlin Z-37 Cmelak
|-See also:-References:*Hans-Joachim Mau: Tschechoslowakische Flugzeuge, Transpress, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-344-00121-3* -External links:**...
agricultural aircraft, which were both a commercial success. For a period of time LET also produced a jet training aircraft the L-29
Aero L-29 Delfin
|-See also:-References:* Gunston, Bill, ed. "Aero L-29 Delfin." The Encyclopedia of World Air Power. New York: Crescent Books, 1990. ISBN 0-517-53754-0....
.
Over the years LET developed and produced gliders–Zlín Z 22, Z 124 Galánka, LF 109 Pioneer, Z 425 Šohaj. However the most popular gliders produced by LET are the Blaníks–L-13 Blaník
LET L-13
The L-13 Blaník is a two seater trainer glider produced by Let Kunovice since 1956. It is the most numerous and widely used glider in the world. In United States Air Force Academy service, it is designated TG-10C and is used for basic flight training....
, L-23 Super Blaník
LET L-23
-See also:-References:*...
and L-33 Solo
LET L-33
The Let L-33 Solo is a single-seat glider built by Let Kunovice. The L-33 is designed by Marian Meciar and Vaclav Zajic and is a further development of the L-13 and L-23. The L-33 Solo first flew in 1992 and is built entirely of metal . Its docile flying characteristics make the L-33 a good machine...
.
During the 1960s LET’s engineers developed a 19 seat commuter turboprop – the L-410 Turbolet, of which more than 1100 were produced. This popular aircraft went through a number of improvements and modernisations and the latest types, the L 410 UVP-E20 and L 420 are EASA and FAA certified respectively.
Let L-610
-External links:*...
was produced in a prototype form and displayed at the Paris Airshow. Production was cancelled due to lack of funding, and in October 2007 all but one of the working prototypes were destroyed in the factory to prevent their use.
The all-metal Blaník sailplane was produced in the largest quantities of any sailplane, with over 3000 manufactured since the first rolled off the production line in 1958. In 2005 it was still in production as the L23 Super Blaník
LET L-23
-See also:-References:*...
variant.