# Letov Kbely

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Letov_Kbely
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Letov_Kbely.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letov_Kbely
> Source revision: 1308397626
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Czech aircraft manufacturer

This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Letov Kbely" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

[50°7′58.94″N 14°31′13.67″E / 50.1330389°N 14.5204639°E / 50.1330389; 14.5204639](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Letov_Kbely&params=50_7_58.94_N_14_31_13.67_E_)

Letov Kbely LATECOERE Czech Republic Industry Aerospace Founded 1918 (1918) Fate Purchased by Groupe Latécoère in 2000 Headquarters Prague-Letňany , Czech Republic Parent Groupe Latécoère (2000–present) Website www.latecoere.aero/en/latecoere-ceska-republika/

**Letov** is an [aircraft](/source/Aircraft) company located in [Letňany](/source/Let%C5%88any) district of [Prague](/source/Prague), [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic). It is the oldest aircraft company in the region.[1]

## 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](/source/Letov_%C5%A0-1), 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](/source/Luftwaffe). Production lines were also set up during World War II for combat versions of the [Ju 290](/source/Junkers_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](/source/MiG-15), [MiG-19](/source/MiG-19) and [MiG-21](/source/MiG-21).

Over 4,000 wings and empennages for [L-29 Delfín](/source/Aero_L-29_Delf%C3%ADn), a [jet](/source/Jet_engine) [trainer aircraft](/source/Trainer_aircraft) that became the standard jet trainer for the air forces [Warsaw Pact](/source/Warsaw_Pact) nations in the 1960s, were built by Letov. The company has also built wings and empennages for 2500 [L-39 Albatros](/source/Aero_L-39_Albatros) trainer aircraft since the 1970s.

Following the [fall of socialism](/source/Velvet_Revolution) in [Czechoslovakia](/source/Czechoslovakia) in 1989, Letov failed to assert itself on the international market and in 2000 it was bought by French [Groupe Latécoère](/source/Groupe_Lat%C3%A9co%C3%A8re). The company now manufactures parts for large passenger aircraft.

## Aircraft

Letov Š-1

Letov Š-16

Letov Š-20

Letov Š-328

Letov LF-107 Luňák

Model name First flight Number built Type Letov Š-1 1920 28 Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane Letov Š-2 1921 64 Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane Letov Š-3 1922 2 Single engine monoplane fighter Letov Š-4 1922 20 Single engine biplane fighter Letov Š-5 1923 1 Single engine biplane reconnaissance airplane Letov Š-6 1923 35 Single engine biplane bomber Letov Š-7 1923 1 Single engine biplane fighter prototype Letov Š-8 1923 1 Single engine monoplane racing airplane Letov Š-9 1923 three-engine bomber project Letov Š-10 51 Single engine reconnaissance biplane; Hansa-Brandenburg B.I built under license Letov Š-11 1923 twin-engine bomber project Letov Š-12 1924 1 Single engine monoplane fighter prototype Letov Š-13 1924 1 Single engine biplane fighter prototype Letov Š-14 1924 1 Single engine biplane fighter prototype Letov Š-15 (I) 1924 four-engine monoplane airliner project[2] Letov Š-15 (II) 1926 light experimental sports plane Letov Š-16 1926 89 Single engine biplane bomber Letov Š-17 1929 1 Single engine biplane bomber prototype Letov Š-18 1925 46 Single engine biplane trainer Letov Š-19 1924 9 Single engine biplane airliner; civilian version of Š-6 Letov Š-20 1925 ~118 Single engine biplane fighter Letov Š-21 1 Single engine biplane trainer Letov Š-22 1926 1 Single engine monoplane fighter Letov Š-24 1927 night bomber project; based on Š-16 Letov Š-25 1930 1 Single engine biplane trainer Letov Š-27 (I) 1928 three-engine, 18 passenger airliner project Letov Š-27 (II) 1931 training aircraft project; two built but cancelled before completion Letov Š-28 1929 1 Single engine reconnaissance biplane prototype Letov Š-29 (I) 1927 four-engine biplane bomber project Letov Š-29 (II) 1929 four-engine monoplane bomber project Letov Š-30 Large four-engine biplane airliner project Letov Š-31 1929 33 Single engine biplane fighter Letov Š-32 1931 5 Three engine monoplane airliner Letov Š-33 1930 1 Single engine monoplane bomber Letov Š-34 (I) late 1920s three-engine bomber project Letov Š-34 (II) 1930 single-engine monoplane bomber project; Š-33 derivative Letov Š-39 1931 21 Single-engine, high-speed sport monoplane Letov Š-40 1934 twin-engine airliner studies Letov Š-41 1934 twin-engine airliner studies Letov Š-42 1935 twin-engine bomber project; derivative of Š-40 Letov Š-43 1936 twin-engine medium bomber project Letov Š-44 1936 single-seat light fighter project Letov Š-49 1936 two-seat, two-engine light bomber project Letov Š-50 1938 1 Two engine monoplane utility airplane Letov Š-51 1938 fighter project Letov Š-52 1938 Twin-engine reconnaissance-bomber project Letov Š-56 1938 all metal, twin-boom attack aircraft/light bomber project Letov Š-57 1938 two-seat liaison aircraft project Letov Š-116 1930 12 Bomber version of Š-16 Letov Š-118 1928 2 Š-18 with Walter NZ-85 radial engine Letov Š-128 1931 12 Š-28 with Gnome et Rhône-built Bristol Mercury VII engine Letov Š-131 1929 3 Racing version of Š-31 Letov Š-132 1920s bomber/transport airplane project Letov Š-137 1920 transatlantic airliner project Letov Š-139 1933 6 Ŝ-39 with Pobjoy R engine and Townend ring Letov Š-218 1926 63 Development of Š-18 with steel-tube frame and Walter NZ 120 engine Letov Š-228 4 Version of Š-28 for Estonia with Walter-built Bristol Mercury VII engine Letov Š-231 1933 35 Š-31 with Walter-built Bristol Mercury engine Letov Š-239 1935 15 Š-39 with Walter Minor 4 engine Letov Š-328 1933 ~412 Production version of Š-28 Letov Š-331 1935 1 Š-31 with Walter K.14 engine Letov Š-428 1 Close ground support aircraft version of Š-28 Letov Š-431 1 Š-31 with Armstrong Siddeley Tiger engine Letov Š-516 Š-16 with Isotta-Fraschini Asso 750 engine Letov Š-528 1935 6 Planned replacement for Š-328 Letov Š-616 1930 12 Š-16 with Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engine Letov Š-716 1930 1 Š-16 with Skoda L engine Letov Š-816 1931 2 Š-16 with Praga ESV engine Letov Š-916 Š-16 with Lorraine-Dietrich engine Letov L-42 1960 twin engine business jet/trainer project Letov L-43 1960 twin engine STOL light transport/trainer project Letov L-48 1960 24-seat twin engine regional airliner project Letov L-52 1947 jet fighter project, based on the Me 262 Letov L-53 Observation/artillery spotting/multipurpose airplane project Letov L-101 N/A 0 Two engine monoplane airliner Letov L-103 1946 30-seat, twin-engine pressurized airliner project Letov L-105 1946 ultralight aircraft project Letov L-106 1948 twin-boom transport airplane project Letov L-290 Orel 1946 1 Four engine transport; Junkers Ju 290 built under license Letov L-501 1946 single engine monoplane fighter project; resembled the P-51 Mustang Letov LF-107 Luňák 1948 75 Glider Letov LK-2 Sluka 1988 Ultralight Letov LK-3 Nova Ultralight Letov MK-1 Kocour Motor glider[3] Letov ST-4 Aztek Ultralight Letov XLA-54 1950 1 Single engine monoplane trainer Letov XLF-207 Laminar 1951 Glider

## See also

- [Aero Vodochody](/source/Aero_Vodochody)

- [Avia](/source/Avia_Motors)

- [Beneš-Mráz](/source/Bene%C5%A1-Mr%C3%A1z)

- [Let Kunovice](/source/Let_Kunovice)

- [Zlin Aircraft](/source/Zlin_Aircraft)

## References

### Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Proněk, Tomáš (3 July 2016). ["Letov aneb Smutný úděl naší nejstarší letecké továrny"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220326141814/https://www.letnanskelisty.cz/letov-aneb-smutny-udel-nasi-nejstarsi-letecke-tovarny/d-1141) [Letov or Sad Destiny of Our Oldest Airplane Factory]. *Letňaské listy* (in Czech). Prague. Archived from [the original](https://www.letnanskelisty.cz/letov-aneb-smutny-udel-nasi-nejstarsi-letecke-tovarny/d-1141) on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Third International Aero Show at Prague"](https://archive.org/details/Flight_International_Magazine_1924-06-19-pdf). *Flight*. Vol. 16, no. 25. London: Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom. 19 June 1924. p. 399. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Motorizovaný vetroň Letov MK-1 Kocour"](http://www.gonzoaviation.com/clanok/motorizovany-vetron-letoun-mk-1-kocour). *Gonzo* (in Slovak). 9 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2021.

### Bibliography

- [Taylor, John W. R.](/source/John_W._R._Taylor), ed. (1969). *Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70*. London: Sampson Low Marston & Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-354-00051-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-354-00051-9).

## External links

Media related to [Letov](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Letov) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Letov Kbely aircraft Š-1 Š-2 Š-3 Š-4 Š-5 Š-6 Š-7 Š-8 Š-9 Š-10 Š-11 Š-12 Š-13 Š-14 Š-16 Š-17 Š-18 Š-19 Š-20 Š-21 Š-22 Š-25 Š-27 Š-28 Š-31 Š-32 Š-33 Š-39 Š-50 L-101 L-290 LF-107 Luňák XLF-207 Laminar LK-2 Sluka LK-3 ST-4 Aztek

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Letov Kbely](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letov_Kbely) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letov_Kbely?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.