Author: Terry

Let L-40 Meta-Sokol

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First flying in 1954 the Omnipol L-40 Meta-Sokol originated from Czechoslovakia. The initial version was a three-seater with either a 105 hp Walter Minor 4-III or 115/140 hp M 332 engine.

The four-seater is powered by a 110hp Let M-332 four-cylinder inline engine. Its retractable undercarriage is a reverse tricycle, though the technique is just the same as a normal taildragger.

LET L-40 Meta-Sokol Air Test

Late production aircraft had provision for wingtip auxiliary fuel tanks.

Gallery

Engine: M 332, 110 hp / 140hp supercharged
Wingspan: 32 ft 9 in / 10.00 m
Length: 24 ft 9 in / 7.54 m
Wing area: 157.154 sq.ft / 14.6 sq.m
Weight empty: 1177.5 lb / 534.0 kg
Max take-off weight: 2028 lb / 920 kg
Max. speed: 130 kts / 240 km/h
Cruising speed: 111 kts / 205 km/h / 129 mph
Initial climb rate: 630 ft/min / 192 m/min
Service ceiling: 14,765 ft / 4500 m
Wing load: 13.12 lb/sq.ft / 64.00 kg/sq.m
Range: 458 nm / 8500 km / 528 mi
Crew: 1
Payload: 2-3 Pax

Let VT-425 Sohaj 3

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Soaring Plane, Czech Republic, 1955

Length : 23.458 ft / 7.15 m
Wingspan : 51.181 ft / 15.6 m
Aspect ratio: 18.8
Wing area : 146.39 sq.ft / 13.6 sq.m
Max take off weight : 782.8 lb / 355.0 kg
Weight empty : 496.1 lb / 225.0 kg
Max. weight carried : 220.5 lb / 100.0 kg
Max. speed : 108 kt / 200 km/h
Landing speed : 32 kt / 60 km/h
Cruising speed : 37 kt / 68 km/h
Wing load : 5.33 lb/sq.ft / 26.0 kg/sq.m
Glide ratio : 26.0
Crew : 1

Let LG-125 Sohaj 2

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Soaring Plane, Czech Republic, 1950
Sizes and weights
Length : 23.392 ft / 7.13 m
Wingspan : 49.213 ft / 15.0 m
Aspect ratio: 15.0
Wing area : 150.696 sq.ft / 14.0 sq.m
Max take off weight : 430.0 lb / 195.0 kg
Weight empty : 419.0 lb / 190.0 kg
Max. weight carried : 231.5 lb / 105.0 kg
Max. speed : 97 kt / 180 km/h
Landing speed : 29 kt / 54 km/h
Cruising speed : 36 kt / 67 km/h
Wing load : 2.87 lb/sq.ft / 14.0 kg/sq.m
Glide ratio : 25.0
Crew : 1

Let L-33 Solo

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Designed by Marian Meciar and Vaclav Zajic, the Solo, which first flew in 1992, is a flapless sailplane designed to the OSTIC World Class sailplane specifications for the early solo/club pilot. Construction follows Blanik practice with all metal surfaces except fabric covered rudder, and flush rivets. It has top surface only Schempp-Hirth airbrakes. The fixed main wheel has an oleo-pneumatic shock absorber.
Airfoil: Wortmann FX-60-17A11-182, root; FX-60-126, tip

Wing span: 14.12m / 46.3ft
Wing area: 11sq.m / 118.4sq.ft
Empty Weight: 210kg / 463lb
Payload: 130kg / 287lb
Gross Weight: 340kg / 750lb
Wing Load: 30.91kg/sq.m / 6.33lb/sq.ft
Water Ballast: 0
Aspect ratio: 18.12
MinSink: 0.69 m/s / 2.25 fps / 1.33 kt
L/DMax: 31 83 kph / 45 kt / 52mph
Seats: 1

Let L-23 Super Blanik

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The Super Blanik, which first flew in 1988, is a development of the L 13 Blanik, but without flaps.

1993 Let L-23 Super Blanik C/N 928006

It has a T-tail, DFS type airbrakes and a swiveling tail wheel. It retains the semi-retractable shock absorbed main wheel of the L 13. The cockpit canopy opens in two pieces, the front cockpit cover opening sideways and the rear moving up and back over the center fuselage. Wingtip extensions are optional, increasing the span to 18.2 m/ 59.7 ft, but aerobatics are only permitted when the extensions are not fitted.

1993 Let L-23 Super Blanik C/N 928006

Wing span: 16.2m / 53.1ft
Wing area: 19.15sq.m / 206.1sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 13.7
Empty Weight: 310kg / 683lb
Payload: 200kg / 441lb
Gross Weight: 510kg / 1124lb
Wing Load: 26.63kg/sq.m / 5.45lb/sq.ft
Water Ballast: 0
MinSink: 0.85 m/s / 2.8 fps / 1.66 kt
L/DMax: 27 87 kph / 47 kt / 54 mph
Seats: 2
Airfoil: NACA 63/2A-615, root; 63/2A-612, tip
Structure: all metal, except for fabric control surfaces, GFRP wingtips

Let L-21 Spartak

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The Spartak free-class glider was designed in 1957 by Karel Dlouhý, the creator of “Blaník”. It was a more modern glider than its contemporary “Diamond”. The Spartak first flew in 1957.

Vladislav Zejda in 1961 achieved a national record in free flight at a distance of 644 km (From Žamberk to Brad in Romania). This performance was surpassed only in 2003 by Marek Pechance and Tomáš Suchánek with the Nimbus 4.

Most of the pilots at Spartak complained about the tight cabin and poor view through the wavy and distorting plexiglass of its cover.

The only surviving Spartacus can be seen in the aviation museum in Kbely.

Gallery

Wingspan: 59.055 ft / 18.0 m
Wing area: 172.224 sq.ft / 15.95 sq.m
Aspect ratio: 20.3
Wing Profile: NACA 653-618 (root), 631-612 (end)
Length: 26.575 ft / 8.1 m
Weight empty: 295 kg
Max take-off weight: 480 kg
Wing load: 30,02 kg/sq.m
Glide ratio: 38.0 at 81km / h
Min sink: 0.59 m/s at 76 km / h
Crew: 1