Aircraft Industries

Aircraft Industries, a.s., operating under the Let name, is a Czech civil-aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Kunovice in the Zlín Region. Its business continues the industrial and engineering tradition of the Kunovice aircraft plant, historically known as Let Kunovice. The company develops and manufactures aircraft and has also maintained capabilities associated with aircraft assembly, testing, airport operations and aviation education. The company’s best-known product is the L-410 Turbolet, a twin-engine turboprop commuter aircraft developed for short-haul passenger transport and other roles. Its relatively compact size, turboprop configuration and ability to operate from comparatively short or less-developed airfields have made the L-410 suitable for regional connectivity, remote-area transport, cargo work and special missions. More than 1,300 aircraft from the L-410 family have reportedly been built, making it the most commercially successful design associated with the Kunovice manufacturer. Later variants include the L 410 UVP-E20, which received European certification, and the L 420, which received certification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration. Aircraft Industries’ historical portfolio is broader than the L-410. The Kunovice works produced licensed versions of the Yakovlev Yak-11, designated C-11, and the Aero Ae 45 and Ae 145 utility aircraft. It also developed the L-200 Morava light utility aircraft and the Z-37 Cmelak agricultural aircraft, both of which became commercially successful. The company and its predecessor organizations manufactured numerous gliders, including the Blanik family. The L-13 Blanik, L-23 Super Blanik and L-33 Solo became particularly prominent, and more than 3,000 Blanik sailplanes were manufactured across the family. The company also pursued the larger L-610 regional turboprop. A prototype was displayed at the Paris Air Show, but planned series production was cancelled because of inadequate funding; eight prototypes were made. During the post-socialist restructuring period, the business considered cooperation with Fairchild Aircraft, was acquired by Ayres Corporation in 1998, merged with Moravan Aeroplanes in 2001 and subsequently entered bankruptcy. Aircraft Industries acquired the business in 2005. Ownership later changed again. Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, commonly known as UGMK, acquired a 51 percent stake in 2008 and bought the remaining shares in 2013. In April 2022, the company was acquired by Prague-based Omnipol Group. Aircraft Industries therefore remains an active Czech aerospace manufacturer, while its public identity remains closely tied to the Let name and the long-running L-410 program.

The industrial origins of Aircraft Industries lie in the construction of an aircraft factory at Kunovice, which began in 1936 as part of the Škoda Works industrial concern. The plant was not completed before the Second World War and initially served as a repair facility. After the war it was nationalized, and a new factory was constructed between 1950 and 1953. From 1957 to 1967 the works operated under the name SPP, an abbreviation associated with the state’s First Five-Year Plan. In 1967 the Let name was restored. During the early postwar decades, the factory produced aircraft under licence, including the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-11 trainer as the C-11 and the Aero Ae 45 and Ae 145 utility aircraft. Its own engineering activity expanded in 1957 with development of the L-200 Morava light utility aircraft. Four years later the company began work on the Z-37 Cmelak agricultural aircraft. Both designs became commercially successful and demonstrated the manufacturer’s ability to address civil and specialized aviation markets. Let also established a substantial glider-manufacturing capability. Its portfolio included the Zlin 22, Z-124 Galanka, LF-109 Pionyr and Z-425 Sohaj. The Blanik family became the most important sailplane line: the L-13 Blanik, L-23 Super Blanik and L-33 Solo were produced in large numbers, with more than 3,000 Blanik sailplanes reportedly manufactured from the first production aircraft in 1958. The L-23 Super Blanik remained in production as late as 2005. The company’s defining program began in the 1960s, when its engineers developed the 19-seat L-410 Turbolet twin-turboprop commuter aircraft. The aircraft was progressively improved through multiple variants and became the manufacturer’s most successful design, with more than 1,300 examples built according to the cited reference material. The L 410 UVP-E20 and L 420 represented later stages of the product family and achieved European and United States certification respectively. Kunovice also attempted to move into a larger regional-aircraft category with the L-610. The aircraft was produced in prototype form in 1988 and exhibited at the Paris Air Show. However, series production was cancelled because of a lack of funding, and eight prototypes were built. In the 1990s the business examined a possible joint venture with Fairchild Aircraft but did not proceed with that arrangement. The post-communist period brought restructuring and ownership changes. Ayres Corporation purchased the business in 1998. In 2001 it merged with Moravan Aeroplanes, later entering bankruptcy. Aircraft Industries purchased the business in 2005, consolidating the modern corporate identity around the historic Kunovice manufacturing operation. UGMK acquired 51 percent of the shares in 2008 and the remaining shares in 2013. In April 2022, Omnipol Group acquired Aircraft Industries. The company’s continuing identity is therefore based on both the Aircraft Industries corporate name and the Let brand, with the L-410 remaining its central aircraft program.

1. 2022Omnipol Group acquisition

   Omnipol Group acquired Aircraft Industries in April 2022.

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2. 2013UGMK buys remaining shares

   UGMK acquired the remainder of the company’s shares.

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3. 2008UGMK takes a controlling stake

   UGMK acquired 51 percent of Aircraft Industries’ shares.

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4. 2005Aircraft Industries acquires the business

   Following bankruptcy, the aircraft manufacturing business was purchased by Aircraft Industries.

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5. 1998Ayres Corporation acquisition

   Ayres Corporation purchased the Kunovice aircraft business.

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6. 1988L-610 prototype production

   The larger L-610 regional turboprop reached prototype production and was shown at the Paris Air Show.

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7. 1967LET name returns

   The works returned to the Let name after operating as SPP from 1957 to 1967.

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8. 1961Z-37 Cmelak development begins

   Development began on the Z-37 Cmelak agricultural aircraft.

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9. 1957L-200 Morava development begins

   The company began developing the L-200 Morava light utility aircraft.

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10. 1950New postwar plant is built

    After nationalization, a new Kunovice aircraft plant was constructed during 1950–1953.

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11. 1936Kunovice aircraft factory construction begins

    Construction of an aircraft plant at Kunovice began as part of the Škoda Works industrial concern.

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A Czech specialist aircraft manufacturer focused on civil turboprop aircraft, regional connectivity, utility aviation and aviation manufacturing expertise.

• L-410 TurboletTwin-engine turboprop commuter aircraft

  The L-410 Turbolet is a compact twin-engine turboprop developed for regional and commuter transport. Its operating profile also supports cargo, remote-area connectivity and special missions. The family has undergone repeated modernization, including the L 410 UVP-E20 and L 420 variants, and is the most successful aircraft program associated with the Kunovice manufacturer, with more than 1,300 aircraft reportedly built.

• L-610Regional turboprop aircraft program1988

  The L-610 was a larger regional turboprop intended to extend the company’s range beyond the L-410. A prototype was produced in 1988 and exhibited at the Paris Air Show. Planned series production was cancelled because of insufficient funding, and eight prototypes were built.

• Blanik familyGliders1958

  The Blanik family includes the L-13 Blanik, L-23 Super Blanik and L-33 Solo sailplanes. It became the company’s most prominent glider line and one of the largest-volume sailplane programs in aviation history, with more than 3,000 aircraft from the family reportedly manufactured.

• L-200 MoravaLight utility aircraft1957

  The L-200 Morava was a light utility aircraft developed by the Kunovice works beginning in 1957. It became one of the company’s commercially successful postwar aircraft designs.

• Z-37 CmelakAgricultural aircraft1961

  The Z-37 Cmelak was an agricultural aircraft developed by the company from 1961. It was among the commercially successful designs produced by the Kunovice manufacturer.

• 2022Omnipol acquires Aircraft IndustriesM&A

  Aircraft Industries had been owned by UGMK since the latter acquired a controlling stake in 2008 and the remaining shares in 2013.

  What changed. Omnipol Group acquired the Czech aircraft manufacturer in April 2022.

  Aftermath. Aircraft Industries became part of the Omnipol Group while retaining its Kunovice-based aircraft-manufacturing identity.

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• 2022Omnipol Group acquires Aircraft Industries

  Prague-based Omnipol Group acquired Aircraft Industries in April 2022, ending UGMK’s ownership of the Czech aircraft manufacturer.

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• 2013UGMK acquires remaining Aircraft Industries shares

  Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company completed its acquisition of the remaining shares in Aircraft Industries after first purchasing a controlling stake in 2008.

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1. Aircraft Industries
2. Let L-410 Turbolet