Aircraft Industries

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(Redirected from
Let Kunovice
)

Let
Websitewww.let.cz

Aircraft Industries, a.s.,[1] operating as Let, is a Czech (before December 1992 Czechoslovak) civil aircraft manufacturer. Its most successful design has been the L-410 Turbolet, of which more than 1300 units have been built.[2] Its head office is in Kunovice, Zlín Region.[1] Let was owned by the Russian company UGMK from 2008 to 2022,[3] when it was acquired by Czech-based Omnipol Group.[4]

The company operates the sixth largest Czech airport and a

private secondary school
.

History

Aero 145 at CIAF airshow in Hradec Králové
Let L-610 in Kunovice museum

Building of an aircraft factory in

Aero Ae 145
utility aircraft.

In 1957 the company began to develop the

Z-37 Cmelak
agricultural aircraft, which were both a commercial success.

Over the years Let developed and produced gliders:

L-33 Solo
.

During the 1960s Let's engineers developed a 19-seat commuter turboprop, the L-410 Turbolet, of which more than 1200 were produced.[6] 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.[7]

The largest Czech transport aircraft, the Let L-610, was produced in 1988 in prototype form and displayed at the Paris Airshow. Production was cancelled due to lack of funding. There were eight prototypes made in the factory.[8]

The all-metal

L23 Super Blaník
variant.

The company explored the possibility of a joint venture with Fairchild Aircraft in the 1990s, but eventually decided against it.[9] However, it was later purchased by Ayres Corporation in 1998.[10] In 2001, it merged with Morovan Aeroplanes.[11] Following bankruptcy, it was purchased by Aircraft Industries in 2005.[12]

The Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UGMK) purchased 51% of the company's shares was in 2008; UAC had shown interest in acquiring the control of the company as well.[13] UGMK purchased the remaining shares in 2013.[4]

In April 2022, Aircraft Industries was acquired by the Prague-based company, Omnipol Group.[4]

Products

Powered aircraft

Let L-410 NG
Model name First flight Number built Type
Let Ae-45S 228 License built twin engine utility airplane
Let Ae-145 162 License built twin engine utility airplane
Let C-11 707 License built single engine trainer
Let L-200 Morava 1957 361 Twin engine utility airplane
Let L-410 Turbolet 1969 1,200+ Twin engine transport airplane
Let L-610 1988 6 Prototype twin engine transport airplane
Aircraft Industries L 410 NG[14][15] 2015 Twin engine transport airplane

Gliders

Model name First flight Number built Type
Let LF-109 Pionýr 1950 ~470 Glider
Let L-13 Blaník 1956 3,000+ Glider
Let L-23 Super Blaník 1988 Glider
Let L-33 Solo 1992 94 Glider
Let TG-10 21 Training glider

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Contacts." Let Kunovice. Retrieved on 19 May 2011. "Aircraft Industries, a.s. Na Záhonech 1177 686 04 Kunovice Czech Republic" – Address in Czech: "Aircraft Industries, a.s. Na Záhonech 1177 686 04 Kunovice Česká republika"
  2. ^ "L 410 UVP-E20 – Základní charakteristika". Let.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Russian army to possibly place order for aircraft with Czech manufacturer", BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 5 November 2012. (Retrieved via Lexis Nexis)
  4. ^ a b c Kaminski-Morrow, David. "Czech firm acquires L-410 manufacturer Aircraft Industries from Russian owners". Flight Global. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Big structural parts machined faster". Aerospace Manufacturing and Design. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  6. ^ Stoffels, Felix (11 September 2019). "The L-610 shall rise from the dead". Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  7. ^ Valiska, Josef (9 August 2004). "Zmizi znacka Czech Made z oblohy?". Technik (in Czech). Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  8. ^ Finlay, Mark (1 January 2023). "A Brief History Of The Czech Let L-610 Turboprop Airliner". Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Fairchild and Let drop joint venture plans". Flight Global. 25 April 1995. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  10. ^ Thurston, Scott (18 August 1998). "Ayres Soars into Europe on Czech Purchase". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. D2. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  11. ^ "[Untitled]". Blanik America. 23 August 2001. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  12. ^ Horáková, Pavla (27 June 2005). "Aircraft Industries to buy bankrupt Letecke zavody Kunovice". Radio Prague International. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Russia's OAK Poised to Acquire LET Kunovice". InvestIQ. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  14. ^ "Aircraft Industries unveils next-generation Let L-410 turboprop aircraft in Czech Republic". Aerospace Technology. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  15. ^ E. Howard, Courtney (8 March 2018). "Aircraft Industries launches New Generation aircraft". Retrieved 25 March 2024.

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Let Kunovice.
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