Czechoslovakia had a significant history in producing aircraft, but the aeronautical industry was extremely influenced by several negative factors at the end of the 1980s. The collapse of the East European market, combined with the global recession reduced the production of all aircraft manufacturers.[ citation needed ]
Since 1990, many small private companies specializing mainly in the production of light sporting aircraft were founded. These firms are headed by very experienced engineers and workers, being former employees of big state owned aeronautical factories. By 2003, the Czech Republic became the third largest manufacturer of such planes in Europe (after France and Germany), with over 500 light aircraft produced yearly. [1]
Incomplete list of manufacturers:
Saab AB, with subsidiaries collectively known as the Saab Group, is a Swedish aerospace and defense company primarily operating from Sweden. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, but its development and manufacturing operations are undertaken in Linköping.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bangalore. Established on 23 December 1940, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the world. HAL began aircraft manufacturing as early as 1942 with licensed production of Harlow PC-5, Curtiss P-36 Hawk and Vultee A-31 Vengeance for the Indian Air Force. HAL currently has 11 dedicated Research and development (R&D) centres and 21 manufacturing divisions under 4 production units spread across India. HAL is managed by a board of directors appointed by the President of India through the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. HAL is currently involved in designing and manufacturing of fighter jets, helicopters, jet engine and marine gas turbine engine, avionics, software development, spares supply, overhauling and upgrading of Indian military aircraft.
The Klemm Leichtflugzeugbau GmbH was a German aircraft manufacturer noteworthy for sports and touring planes of the 1930s.
The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Czech firearm manufacturer ČZUB. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original "wonder nines" and features a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel. It is widely distributed throughout the world and is the most common handgun in the Czech Republic.
The Škoda Works was one of the largest European industrial conglomerates of the 20th century, founded by Czech engineer Emil Škoda in 1859 in Plzeň, then in the Kingdom of Bohemia, Austrian Empire. It is the predecessor of today's Škoda Auto, Doosan Škoda Power and Škoda Transportation companies.
The Aero L-159 ALCA is a subsonic light combat aircraft and advanced trainer developed in the single-seat L-159A and two-seat L-159B versions, respectively, produced in the Czech Republic by Aero Vodochody. It was derived from the Aero L-59 Super Albatros trainer, which was in turn developed from the Aero L-39 Albatros series.
Avia Motors s.r.o. is a Czech automotive manufacturer. Founded in 1919 as an aircraft maker, it diversified into trucks after 1945. As an aircraft maker it was notable for producing biplane fighter aircraft, especially the B-534. Avia ceased aircraft production in 1963.
Aeronca, contracted from Aeronautical Corporation of America, located in Middletown, Ohio, is a US manufacturer of engine components and airframe structures for commercial aviation and the defense industry, and a former aircraft manufacturer. From 1928 to 1951, the company was a major producer of general aviation aircraft, and also produced the engines for some of their early designs.
Aircraft Industries, a.s., operating as Let, is a Czech civil aircraft manufacturer. Its most successful design has been the L-410 Turbolet, of which more than 1300 units have been built. Its head office is in Kunovice, Zlín Region. Let was owned by the Russian company UGMK from 2008 to 2022, when it was acquired by Czech-based Omnipol Group.
Evektor-Aerotechnik is a Czech aircraft manufacturer based in Kunovice, Czech Republic. The company produces a range of light sport aircraft, training, advanced ultralight aircraft and electric aircraft.
The Omnipol Group of companies is headquartered in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Throughout the country the Omnipol Group employs 4000 people, out of which over 400 are dedicated to research and development.
Banes Motor České Budějovice is a professional men's ice hockey club, based in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. It is a member of the Czech Extraliga (ELH) after reforming when the original club, now known as Mountfield HK, moved to Hradec Králové over a sponsorship dispute. Home stadium of the team Banes Motor České Budějovice is Budvar Arena in České Budějovice.
Praga is a manufacturing company based in Prague, Czech Republic. The company produced automobiles, trucks and planes. The Praga V3S 5-ton truck was used by the Czechoslovak Army for more than half a century. The current company produces karts, racing and road supersports and is involved in car racing. It produces up to 7,000 kart chassis every year, making it one of the most successful kart manufacturers in the world.
Fiat Aviazione was an Italian aircraft manufacturer, at one time part of the Fiat group, focused mainly on military aviation. After World War I, Fiat consolidated several Italian small aircraft manufacturers, like Pomilio and Ansaldo. Most famous were the Fiat biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s, the Fiat CR.32 and the Fiat CR.42. Other notable designs were the fighters CR.20, G.50, G.55 and a bomber, the Fiat BR.20. In the 1950s, the company designed the G.91 light ground attack plane.
On 13 July 2011, Noar Linhas Aéreas Flight 4896, a Let L-410 Turbolet passenger aircraft on a domestic service from Recife to Mossoró, Brazil, crashed shortly after take-off in the Boa Viagem neighbourhood of Recife, after suffering an engine failure. All 16 people on board were killed.
The Direct Fly Alto is a Czech ultralight and light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Direct Fly sro of Hluk. The aircraft is supplied as a standard or quick-build kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.
Direct Fly s.r.o. is a Czech aircraft manufacturer currently based in Brno and founded in 2006 in Hluk. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight and the American light-sport aircraft categories. The organization is a Czech společnost s ručením omezeným, or private limited company.
Primoco UAV is a Czech company that creates unmanned aerial vehicles designed for both civilian and military applications. Its first model took flight in July 2015 and the UAV Model One 100 started full production in January 2016.
Ivanov Aero sro, sometimes called Ivanov Aircraft, was a Czech aircraft manufacturer based in Hradec Králové and founded by Marek Ivanov. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft.
Aircraft Industries L 410 NG is a twin-engine 19-seat aircraft manufactured by the Czech company, Aircraft Industries. The aircraft is an upgraded version of the Let L 410 UVP-E20. The first flight took place on 29 July 2015. Serial production of the L 410 NG began in March 2018.