LET L-13 Blaník
LET Aircraft Industries · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1956 · glider
The LET L-13 Blaník is a Czechoslovak all-metal two-seat training glider that became the world's most widely used and exported sailplane for basic and advanced glider pilot training. Its rugged metal construction and forgiving handling made it ideal for ab initio instruction.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- All-metal two-seat training glider with tricycle undercarriage
- World's most widely exported training glider — flew in over 40 countries
Slim all-metal fuselage with side-by-side seating under a long canopy, untapered mid-mounted wings, tricycle undercarriage, and T-shaped tail surfaces.
Specifications
- The LET L-13 Blaník has a length of 8.4 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.2 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Karel Dlouhý and first flown in 1956, the Blaník was adopted by gliding schools across the Eastern Bloc and exported worldwide, becoming the standard two-seat trainer for dozens of national aero clubs and air forces. Its all-metal construction offered durability that fabric gliders could not match, and it tolerates significant student mishandling. Over 3,000 were built during its long production run.
Variants
The L-13AC was an aerobatic variant; the L-13SW (Swallow) was an improved version; the L-23 Super Blaník is a modernised derivative with updated equipment.
Where you'll see it
Used for ab initio glider training by flying clubs, aero clubs, and military training organisations in over 40 countries across six continents.
Related aircraft
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