Let L-33 Sólo
Let Kunovice · Czech Republic · first flew 1992 · glider
The Let L-33 Sólo is a single-seat Czech training and sporting glider designed for club soaring, with a 33:1 glide ratio and docile handling intended to bridge the gap between two-seat trainers and high-performance single-seaters.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single-seat unpowered glider with a long, slender fuselage and reclined pilot position |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Shoulder-mounted tapered wing with a high aspect ratio giving a glide ratio of 33:1
- T-tail with a horizontal stabiliser mounted at the fin tip — clean and uncluttered
- Single-seat unpowered glider with a long, slender fuselage and reclined pilot position
The L-33's shoulder-mounted wing and T-tail immediately distinguish it from low-wing competitors. The fuselage is slender and relatively short compared to the 14-metre span, giving a noticeably high aspect ratio in plan view. At rest the aircraft sits low to the ground on a simple undercarriage, with the cockpit canopy forming a smooth teardrop blending into the fuselage.
Specifications
- The Let L-33 Sólo has a length of 6.62 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.12 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 248 km/h (154 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Marian Meciar and Václav Zajíc and first flown in 1992, the L-33 was put into production at the Let Kunovice factory in the Czech Republic. It received EASA type certification and went on to sell to clubs across Europe and beyond. Production continued until around 2012, with approximately 94 aircraft built.
Variants
No major variants; the production aircraft remained close to the prototype configuration throughout the run.
Where you'll see it
Widely used by gliding clubs across Central and Western Europe as a solo-qualifying aircraft. Its predictable stall behaviour and forgiving characteristics made it a standard first solo glider for pilots transitioning from two-seat trainers.
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- L-610
- Let L-410 Turbolet
- Let L-200 Morava
- Let L-40 Meta Sokol
- Ayres Thrush 510
- Bede BD-10
- DG-505 Orion
- Edra Aeronautica Super Pétrel
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