The Lithuanian Aviation Plant (now JSC “Sportinė Aviacija ir Ko”) Company was founded in 1969 and designed and manufactured highest quality gliders. In the course of its history the Company designed, tested and produced 20 different types and modifications of gliders and motor-gliders.
The first composite high performance glider BK.-7 “Lietuva” took-off in 1972. Since then, many other aviation projects were developed and manufactured best known of which are the 1978 Open class glider LAK-12; 15-18m class glider LAK-17a, Standard class gliders Genesis 2 and LAK-19; self- sustaining gliders LAK-17AT and LAK-19T; primary training glider LAK-16, open class ships LAK-20T and LAK-20M. The most popular member of the glider family is the Open Class glider LAK-12. Within 25 years, 253 units have been built and operated in 20 different countries. The LAK-12 was designed according to technical requirements and standards of the former Soviet Union, so called Norms of Flight Safety. In some cases, these Norms were stricter than the current European standards (CS-22).
Since 1996, Sportline Aviacija have worked on the American design standard class glider Genesis. Being the developer of the engineering part of the design, we completed the strength tests and calculations in accordance with JAR-22 standards. All works on obtaining type certificate in accordance with JAR-22 have been carried out and 26 units have been manufactured.
More than a thousand L-13 “BLANIK” gliders from all over the former Soviet Union and Bulgaria were overhauled in the plant.
Over the past 15 years after the company became private, LAK-17 type glider was developed and modified, and about 200 units of 15m and 18m class gliders were manufactured and delivered to the customers all over the world.
In 1999, the LAK factory was completely privatized, and a joint-stock company, Sportinë Aviacija, AB, was formed.
2002 launched a new open class glider, LAK-20 (two-seater version), and at the same time a turbo moto version of this glider as well. Few prototypes of the open class two-seater gliders LAK-20 and LAK-20M have been assembled, but the further development of the project has been frozen.
New modification of LAK-17 is the LAK-17B, which further evolved into a the most revolutionary and progressive product- the LAK-17B-FES (Front Electric Sustainer). The LAK-17B FES has been certified by EASA.
A Certificate issued by the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Authority, which grants the right to perform production of sailplanes, self-launching sailplanes as well as related products and parts.
LAK gliders are worldwide type certified, not only in Lithuania, but have type certificates for gliders in EASA, CAR, and other countries.
Apart from building gliders, the factory has capacities to develop a large variety of aviation or non-aviation composite structures and constructions. The testing facility can be employed for comprehensive analysis of projects and has its own strength test laboratory.
All Aero 