| L-33 Solo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | Czech Republic |
| Manufacturer | Let Kunovice |
| Designer | Marian Meciar and Vaclav Zajic |
| First flight | 1992 |
| Introduction | 1992 |
| Status | In production (2012) |
| Produced | 1992–present |
| Number built | 94 (2011) |
The Let L-33 Solo is a Czech shoulder-wing, single-seat, glider, designed by Marian Meciar and Vaclav Zajic, and produced by Let Kunovice. The L-33 first flew in 1992 and remained in production through 2012, supplied as a ready-to-fly aircraft. [1] [2] [3]
The L-33 was a developed as the single-seat "natural step" for early solo students to fly after dual training on the two-seat LET L-23 Super Blaník. The L-33 features a cantilever wing, a T-tail, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy and fixed monowheel gear. [1] [2]
The semi-monocoque design is made from flush riveted aluminum sheet. The rudder is covered with doped aircraft fabric. Its 14.12 m (46.3 ft) span, semi-tapered wing employs a Wortmann FX-60-17A11-182 airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to an FX-60-126 at the wing tip. The wing has an area of 11 m2 (120 sq ft) and mounts top surface Schempp-Hirth-style air brakes. [1] [2] [4]
The L-33 was a competitor in the IGC World Class sailplane design competition, but lost to the Polish Politechnika Warszawska PW-5. The design is type certified to JAR 22 in Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. [1] [2] [3]
By November 2012, 92 examples had been produced. In December 2012, 49 examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, 12 with Transport Canada and one with the British Civil Aviation Authority. [1] [5] [6] [7]
Data from Bayerl and the Sailplane Directory [1] [2]
General characteristics
Performance
Related lists
The L-13 Blaník is a two-seater trainer glider produced by Let Kunovice since 1956. It is the most numerous and widely used glider in the world. In United States Air Force Academy service, it is designated TG-10C and is used for basic flight training.
The Issoire Silène was a sailplane produced in France in the 1970s and early 1980s, intended primarily as a trainer. It was a conventional design of fibreglass construction in versions with fixed or retractable monowheel undercarriage. The aircraft featured side-by-side seating for two, with the seats slightly staggered in order to minimise fuselage width. French certification was obtained on 3 February 1978, and production began shortly thereafter at the rate of two aircraft per month.
The Scanlan SG-1A is an American, single seat, pod-and-boom, high-wing, strut-braced glider that was designed by Thomas W. Scanlan in 1970 and sold in the form of plans for amateur construction.
The Gehrlein GP-1 is an American mid-wing, single seat FAI Standard Class glider that was designed by Jay and Rod Gehrlein and first flown in July 1968.
The Johnson RHJ-6 Adastra was an American mid-wing, two-seat glider that was designed and constructed by Dick Johnson and first flown on 3 April 1960.
The Whigham GW-5 is an American mid-wing, single seat, FAI Standard Class glider that was designed and constructed by Gene Whigham, a retired flight test engineer for Convair.
The Glasflügel 205 Club Libelle is a high wing, T-tailed, single seat glider that was designed and produced in West Germany by Glasflügel for club and rental use.
The Politechnika Warszawska PW-2, also called the PW-2 Gapa, is a Polish lightweight high-wing, strut-braced single-seat, glider that was designed and built at the Warsaw University of Technology and also produced by DWLKK in the early 1990s. Total number of 19 gliders were built, including variant PW-2D bis.
The PZL Bielsko SZD-51 Junior is a Polish single-seat training and club sailplane.
The PZL Krosno KR-03 Puchatek is a Polish mid-wing, T-tailed, two-seats-in-tandem, glider that was designed by Jerzy Krawczyk and Eugeniusz Pelczar and produced by PZL Krosno, first flying in 1985.
The Rensselaer RP-1 is an American low-wing, single-seat, foot-launchable glider that was designed and produced by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York.
The Rensselaer RP-3 is an American mid-wing, T-tailed single-seat, glider that was designed by Brian E. Thompson and produced by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York.
The LAK-12 is a Lithuanian mid-wing, single-seat, FAI Open Class glider that was designed and produced by Lietuviškos Aviacinės Konstrukcijos (LAK) in Lithuania and later by Sportine Aviacija and Sport Aviation USSR.
The ProFe Banjo is a family of Czech high-wing, strut-braced, T-tailed gliders and motor gliders designed and produced by ProFe in kit form for amateur construction.
The Aviastroitel AC-5M is a Russian mid-wing, single-seat, T-tailed motor glider and unmanned aerial vehicle that is produced by Aviastroitel, now Glider Air Craft.
The Manuel Hawk was a homebuilt single-seat glider designed and constructed in the UK around 1970. Only one example was flown.
The Protoplane Ultra is a French ultralight aircraft, designed and produced by Protoplane of Bagnères-de-Bigorre. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.
The Team Tango Foxtrot, or Foxtrot 4, is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Team Tango of Williston, Florida. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction, with or without factory builder assistance.
The Aerola Alatus is a Ukrainian mid-wing, single-seat, glider and motor glider, designed and produced by Aerola of Kiev.
The Mitchell Wing B-10 is an American high-wing, open cockpit, single-seat ultralight aircraft and motor glider that was designed by Don Mitchell and produced by a variety of companies in the form of kits and plans for amateur construction.
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Let L-33 Solo . |
