{{Short description|Czech aircraft manufacturer}} {{refimprove|date=August 2008}} {{coord|50|7|58.94|N|14|31|13.67|E|display=title}} {{Infobox company | name = Letov Kbely | logo = LATECOERE Czech Republic.png | logo_caption = LATECOERE Czech Republic | logo_alt = LATECOERE Czech Republic | image = Letňany, Letov, vrátnice.jpg | type = | industry = [[Aerospace]] | predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = --> | successor = <!-- or: | successors = --> | founded = {{Start date|1918}} | founder = <!-- or: | founders = --> | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | fate = Purchased by [[Groupe Latécoère]] in 2000 | hq_location_city = [[Prague]]-[[Letňany]] | hq_location_country = [[Czech Republic]] | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = | products = | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | num_employees = | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | parent = [[Groupe Latécoère]]<br />(2000–present) | website = {{URL|https://www.latecoere.aero/en/latecoere-ceska-republika/}} }}
'''Letov''' is an [[aircraft]] company located in [[Letňany]] district of [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]]. It is the oldest aircraft company in the region.<ref>{{cite news | first=Tomáš | last=Proněk | url=https://www.letnanskelisty.cz/letov-aneb-smutny-udel-nasi-nejstarsi-letecke-tovarny/d-1141 | title=Letov aneb Smutný úděl naší nejstarší letecké továrny | trans-title=Letov or Sad Destiny of Our Oldest Airplane Factory | date=3 July 2016 | work=Letňaské listy | location=Prague | language=cs | archive-date=26 March 2022 | access-date=7 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326141814/https://www.letnanskelisty.cz/letov-aneb-smutny-udel-nasi-nejstarsi-letecke-tovarny/d-1141 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==History== Letov was founded in 1918 by the Czechoslovak Ministry of Defense to repair World War I trophy planes. The first indigenous aircraft, the [[Letov Š-1]], was designed and built in 1920, and some 50 aircraft types were built by 1939. During World War II the factory served as repair shop for the German [[Luftwaffe]]. Production lines were also set up during World War II for combat versions of the [[Junkers Ju 290|Ju 290]] aircraft, commencing with the Ju 290 A-2, which carried a search radar for its patrol role. Since the 1950s, the plant has manufactured parts for the [[MiG-15]], [[MiG-19]] and [[MiG-21]].
Over 4,000 wings and empennages for [[Aero L-29 Delfín|L-29 Delfín]], a [[jet engine|jet]] [[trainer aircraft]] that became the standard jet trainer for the air forces [[Warsaw Pact]] nations in the 1960s, were built by Letov. The company has also built wings and empennages for 2500 [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39 Albatros]] trainer aircraft since the 1970s.
Following the [[Velvet Revolution|fall of socialism]] in [[Czechoslovakia]] in 1989, Letov failed to assert itself on the international market and in 2000 it was bought by French [[Groupe Latécoère]]. The company now manufactures parts for large passenger aircraft.
==Aircraft== [[File:Letov Šm-1 s motorem Breifeld & Daněk (1920).jpg|thumb|Letov Š-1]] [[File:Letov Š-16 L'Aérophile-Salon1926.jpg|thumb|Letov Š-16]] [[File:Letoun Š.20.jpg|thumb|Letov Š-20]] [[File:Letov Š 328.jpg|thumb|Letov Š-328]] [[File:Lunak 02.jpg|thumb|Letov LF-107 Luňák]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Model name ! First flight ! Number built ! Type
|- |align=left| [[Letov Š-1]] |align=center| 1920 |align=center| 28 |align=left| Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-1|Letov Š-2]] |align=center| 1921 |align=center| 64 |align=left| Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-3]] |align=center| 1922 |align=center| 2 |align=left| Single engine monoplane fighter |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-4]] |align=center| 1922 |align=center| 20 |align=left| Single engine biplane fighter |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-5]] |align=center| 1923 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-6]] |align=center| 1923 |align=center| 35 |align=left| Single engine biplane bomber |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-7]] |align=center| 1923 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine biplane fighter prototype |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-8]] |align=center| 1923 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine monoplane racing airplane |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-9]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1923 three-engine bomber project |- |align=left| [[Hansa-Brandenburg B.I|Letov Š-10]] |align=center| |align=center| 51 |align=left| Single engine reconnaissance biplane; Hansa-Brandenburg B.I built under license |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-11]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1923 twin-engine bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-12]] |align=center| 1924 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine monoplane fighter prototype |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-13]] |align=center| 1924 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine biplane fighter prototype |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-14]] |align=center| 1924 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine biplane fighter prototype |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-15]] (I) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1924 four-engine monoplane airliner project<ref>{{cite magazine |date=19 June 1924 |title=The Third International Aero Show at Prague |url=https://archive.org/details/Flight_International_Magazine_1924-06-19-pdf |magazine=Flight |location=London |publisher=Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom |volume=16 |issue=25 |page=399 |access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref> |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-15]] (II) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1926 light experimental sports plane |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16]] |align=center| 1926 |align=center| 89 |align=left| Single engine biplane bomber |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16|Letov Š-17]] |align=center| 1929 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine biplane bomber prototype |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-18]] |align=center| 1925 |align=center| 46 |align=left| Single engine biplane trainer |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-19]] |align=center| 1924 |align=center| 9 |align=left| Single engine biplane airliner; civilian version of Š-6 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-20]] |align=center| 1925 |align=center| ~118 |align=left| Single engine biplane fighter |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-20|Letov Š-21]] |align=center| |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine biplane trainer |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-22]] |align=center| 1926 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine monoplane fighter |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-24]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1927 night bomber project; based on Š-16 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-25]] |align=center| 1930 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine biplane trainer |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-27]] (I) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1928 three-engine, 18 passenger airliner project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-27]] (II) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1931 training aircraft project; two built but cancelled before completion |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-28]] |align=center| 1929 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine reconnaissance biplane prototype |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-29]] (I) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1927 four-engine biplane bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-29]] (II) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1929 four-engine monoplane bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-30]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Large four-engine biplane airliner project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-31]] |align=center| 1929 |align=center| 33 |align=left| Single engine biplane fighter |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-32]] |align=center| 1931 |align=center| 5 |align=left| Three engine monoplane airliner |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-33]] |align=center| 1930 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine monoplane bomber |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-34]] (I) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| late 1920s three-engine bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-34]] (II) |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1930 single-engine monoplane bomber project; Š-33 derivative |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-39]] |align=center| 1931 |align=center| 21 |align=left| Single-engine, high-speed sport monoplane |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-40]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1934 twin-engine airliner studies |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-41]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1934 twin-engine airliner studies |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-42]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1935 twin-engine bomber project; derivative of Š-40 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-43]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1936 twin-engine medium bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-44]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1936 single-seat light fighter project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-49]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1936 two-seat, two-engine light bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-50]] |align=center| 1938 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Two engine monoplane utility airplane |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-51]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1938 fighter project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-52]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1938 Twin-engine reconnaissance-bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-56]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1938 all metal, twin-boom attack aircraft/light bomber project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-57]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1938 two-seat liaison aircraft project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16|Letov Š-116]] |align=center| 1930 |align=center| 12 |align=left| Bomber version of Š-16 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-18|Letov Š-118]] |align=center| 1928 |align=center| 2 |align=left| Š-18 with Walter NZ-85 radial engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-28|Letov Š-128]] |align=center| 1931 |align=center| 12 |align=left| Š-28 with Gnome et Rhône-built Bristol Mercury VII engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-31|Letov Š-131]] |align=center| 1929 |align=center| 3 |align=left| Racing version of Š-31 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-132]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1920s bomber/transport airplane project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-137]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1920 transatlantic airliner project |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-39|Letov Š-139]] |align=center| 1933 |align=center| 6 |align=left| Ŝ-39 with Pobjoy R engine and Townend ring |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-18|Letov Š-218]] |align=center| 1926 |align=center| 63 |align=left| Development of Š-18 with steel-tube frame and Walter NZ 120 engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-28|Letov Š-228]] |align=center| |align=center| 4 |align=left| Version of Š-28 for Estonia with Walter-built Bristol Mercury VII engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-31|Letov Š-231]] |align=center| 1933 |align=center| 35 |align=left| Š-31 with Walter-built Bristol Mercury engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-39|Letov Š-239]] |align=center| 1935 |align=center| 15 |align=left| Š-39 with Walter Minor 4 engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-28|Letov Š-328]] |align=center| 1933 |align=center| ~412 |align=left| Production version of Š-28 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-31|Letov Š-331]] |align=center| 1935 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Š-31 with Walter K.14 engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-28|Letov Š-428]] |align=center| |align=center| 1 |align=left| Close ground support aircraft version of Š-28 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-31|Letov Š-431]] |align=center| |align=center| 1 |align=left| Š-31 with Armstrong Siddeley Tiger engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16|Letov Š-516]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Š-16 with Isotta-Fraschini Asso 750 engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-28|Letov Š-528]] |align=center| 1935 |align=center| 6 |align=left| Planned replacement for Š-328 |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16|Letov Š-616]] |align=center| 1930 |align=center| 12 |align=left| Š-16 with Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16|Letov Š-716]] |align=center| 1930 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Š-16 with Skoda L engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16|Letov Š-816]] |align=center| 1931 |align=center| 2 |align=left| Š-16 with Praga ESV engine |- |align=left| [[Letov Š-16|Letov Š-916]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Š-16 with Lorraine-Dietrich engine |- |align=left| [[Letov L-42]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1960 twin engine business jet/trainer project |- |align=left| [[Letov L-43]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1960 twin engine STOL light transport/trainer project |- |align=left| [[Letov L-48]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1960 24-seat twin engine regional airliner project |- |align=left| [[Letov L-52]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1947 jet fighter project, based on the Me 262 |- |align=left| [[Letov L-53]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Observation/artillery spotting/multipurpose airplane project |- |align=left| [[Letov L-101]] |align=center| N/A |align=center| 0 |align=left| Two engine monoplane airliner |- |align=left| [[Letov L-103]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1946 30-seat, twin-engine pressurized airliner project |- |align=left| [[Letov L-105]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1946 ultralight aircraft project |- |align=left| [[Letov L-106]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1948 twin-boom transport airplane project |- |align=left| [[Junkers Ju 290|Letov L-290 Orel]] |align=center| 1946 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Four engine transport; Junkers Ju 290 built under license |- |align=left| [[Letov L-501]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| 1946 single engine monoplane fighter project; resembled the P-51 Mustang |- |align=left| [[Letov LF-107 Luňák]] |align=center| 1948 |align=center| 75 |align=left| Glider |- |align=left| [[Letov LK-2 Sluka]] |align=center| 1988 |align=center| |align=left| Ultralight |- |align=left| [[Letov LK-3 Nova]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Ultralight |- |align=left| [[Letov MK-1 Kocour]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Motor glider<ref>{{cite web |title=Motorizovaný vetroň Letov MK-1 Kocour |url=http://www.gonzoaviation.com/clanok/motorizovany-vetron-letoun-mk-1-kocour |website=Gonzo |access-date=8 March 2021 |language=Slovak |date=9 March 2013}}</ref> |- |align=left| [[Letov ST-4 Aztek]] |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Ultralight |- |align=left| [[Letov XLA-54]] |align=center| 1950 |align=center| 1 |align=left| Single engine monoplane trainer |- |align=left| [[Letov XLF-207 Laminar]] |align=center| 1951 |align=center| |align=left| Glider |- |}
==See also== * [[Aero Vodochody]] * [[Avia Motors|Avia]] * [[Beneš-Mráz]] * [[Let Kunovice]] * [[Zlin Aircraft]]
==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book|editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=John W. R. |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70|year=1969|publisher=Sampson Low Marston & Company|location=London|isbn=0-354-00051-9|editor-link=John W. R. Taylor }} {{refend}}
==External links== {{Commons category inline}}
{{Letov aircraft}}
[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Prague]] [[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1918]] [[Category:Czech brands]] [[Category:1918 establishments in Czechoslovakia]]