Aircraft Industries
Aircraft Industries, as
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legal form | Akciová společnost , joint stock company |
founding | 1936 |
Seat | Kunovice , Czech Republic |
Website | www.let.cz |
Aircraft Industries, as (formerly LET Kunovice ) is a Czech aircraft manufacturer in Kunovice near Zlín specializing in small passenger and glider planes .
history
The company was founded in 1936 as a repair shop for Avia aircraft (mainly Ba-33 and B-534 fighter aircraft). In 1952 a new plant was built and in 1954 production switched to the Aero Ae-45S . The first flight of the L-200 touring aircraft took place in 1957 and the first flight of the L-13 Blanik glider in 1958.
The production of tail fuselage parts of the Soviet MiG-21F-13 began in 1962. In 1963, the production of the Aero L-29 Delfín jet trainer began and the first flight of the Z-37 agricultural aircraft took place. In 1966 Let began designing and developing a small, light twin-engine transport aircraft. The shoulder -wing aircraft with the prototype designation XL-410 completed its maiden flight on April 16, 1969. The first flight of the L-410UVP series took place on November 1, 1977 and the first flight of the further developed L-610M series on December 28, 1988 . In 1988 the L-23 “Super Blanik” glider made its first flight. In 1991 the company was transformed into "LZ Aeronautical Industries, Inc" as an independent public company. In 1992 and 1993 the first flights of the types 33 Solo, L-610 G and L-420 took place.
bankruptcy
In September 2000 the major creditor bank filed for bankruptcy, which was supported by parts of the workforce. Let's US partner, Ayres Corporation , had shown no willingness to save the company.
Continuation
The company was taken over by the Czech investor PAMCO INT., As in September 2005 and renamed Aircraft Industries ; the name LET is still in the company's logo. In June 2008, 51% of the company shares were taken over by the Russian mining holding UGMK ( Uralskaja Gorno-Metallurgitscheskaja Kompanija ).
museum
In the Kunovice Aviation Museum, located near the plant, there are numerous types produced by Let.
Types
- L-200 Morava , touring plane
- L-410 Turbolet, short-haul aircraft
- L-420 , feeder aircraft
- L-610 , passenger aircraft
- Z-37 Čmelak , agricultural aircraft
- L-13 Blanik , glider
- L-21 Spartak, glider
- L-23 Super Blanik, glider
- L-33 Solo, glider
- VT-425 Sohaj 3, glider
- LG-125 Sohaj 2, glider
- LF-109 Pionyr , glider
- VT-16 Orlik , glider