L-410 UVP-E20 is a universal twin-engine aircraft of Czech production for local airlines, accommodating 19 passengers. Designed for operation on unprepared dirt, grass, snow areas, as well as on airfields with short runways (about 600-700 meters), which, in fact, makes it an “off-road” aircraft.
The first flight of the L-410 was made on April 16, 1969. The main customer of the aircraft was the Soviet Union. In addition, the L-410 was also supplied to Bulgaria, Brazil, Hungary, East Germany, Libya, and Poland. Despite the fact that the plant is located in the Czech Republic, it considers itself part of the Russian aircraft industry: the foundations for this were laid during its development and during its long history of operation. As of 2012, more than 400 L-410 aircraft are in operation around the world.
Production site of Aircraft Industries in Kunovice, Czech Republic. The Aircraft Industries plant, better known under the Let Kunovice brand, is located 300 km from Prague. The plant employs 920 people.
The company produces aircraft through a full production cycle - it has its own lines for surface treatment of materials, paint and varnish production, a machine shop, assembly shops, a design bureau and an airport.
L-410 fuselage parts production workshop. The enterprise is expanding and modernizing production - light green equipment is intended for the production of a new generation of the L-410 NG (New Generation) aircraft.
The plant's production capacity is 16-18 new aircraft per year. About 80% of aircraft are supplied to Russia. Over the past four years, 35 aircraft have been delivered to Russia.
Production of parts on a CNC milling center from the French company Creneau:
Cleaning parts before molding:
Punching Press:
Manufacturing of the wing spar on a 5-axis CNC milling center. Russian-made duralumin is used in production. The total share of components from Russia in the L-410 aircraft is about 15% - this is a legacy of the fact that the aircraft was developed by order of the USSR and with the participation of Soviet designers.
Assembly of the front wing:
Checking the quality of riveting on an airplane wing:
One L-410 aircraft uses about 185,000 rivets of different types and sizes:
Riveting work in the middle part of the fuselage:
Installation of floor panels:
Production of the rear fuselage:
Production of air intake parts for the CASA CN-235 aircraft within the framework of industrial cooperation.
The plant also cooperates with Boeing for the Boeing 787 aircraft.
Aircraft Assembly Conveyor L-410 UVP-E20. Located in one of the newest buildings of the plant, originally designed for the production of L-610. In one half of the building there are two production lines for new L-410 aircraft, in the second half there is a service workshop for aircraft coming out of service:
There are about 10 aircraft in the assembly shop at the same time. The fuselage, wing, end tanks and tail unit come to the beginning of the line from the paint shop. At the end of the line are aircraft undergoing flight tests and preparing for delivery to customers. Over the entire history of its existence, the plant has produced over 1,150 aircraft of the L-410 family. More than 850 of them were delivered to operators in the USSR.
The process of finishing the aircraft luggage compartment in the nose after completing the installation of electrical equipment:
Emergency exit door assembly:
The nose of the aircraft with serial number 2915. The weather radar antenna is visible. Bow luggage compartment doors open:
Installation of avionics in the cockpit. Avionics traditionally include devices from Russian manufacturers:
Installation of electrical equipment in the aircraft cabin:
Installation of electrical wiring harnesses:
Five-blade AV-725 propellers (Avia Propeller) together with a GE H80-200 engine make up the new power plant for the L-410 UVP-E20 aircraft. It has been installed on all new aircraft since January 2013 and is certified by EASA and the Russian AR MAK.
Young people in production are not uncommon, also due to the presence of its own vocational technical school on the territory of the plant. The average age of the company's employees is 44 years:
Work on the GE H-80 engine, carried out by a company representative from Prague:
The final installation stage takes about 5 months - this is the most expensive part of production, as within its framework, engines, landing gear and all avionics are installed on the aircraft, where each individual unit can cost 100-250 thousand euros.
The total duration of the aircraft production cycle from the production of the first fuselage components to the end of flight testing takes just under a year.
Cockpit of the L-410 UVP-E20 aircraft. The aircraft is fully equipped for instrument flight and has an advanced Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) and TCAS II. The L 410 is designed in the metric system (rather than inches), which is an exception in Western aviation:
This type of aircraft has been used for many years as a graduation aircraft for training pilots at the Sasovo Flight School of Civil Aviation (Ryazan region).
Pre-flight preparation. Stanislav Sklenarzh - chief test pilot of the plant:
Under the wing of an airplane, a view of the river. Morava and the town of Uhersky Ostrog:
Aircraft L-410 UVP-E20 for French Guiana. Airplanes for exotic countries often have bright, memorable colors:
Leaving with a turn. Practical ceiling - 8,000 meters:
Approach to the runway. The L-410 aircraft can land both on a paved runway and on grass, soil and snow. UVP in the name of the aircraft means the Russian abbreviation “Shortened Takeoff and Landing,” which also recalls the Russian roots of the aircraft:
Castle Novy Svetlov (1480), Bojkowice:
The medieval Gothic castle Buchlov (13th century) is located 10 km from Kunowice. Buchlov Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in South Moravia - the south-eastern region of the Czech Republic:
Velehrad Monastery (XIII century) is one of the main pilgrimage churches in the Czech Republic. In 863 - 866 Christian saints Cyril and Methodius lived and preached in the city of Velegrad:
A prototype of the L-610M aircraft in Staroe Mesto, installed for viewing at the entrance to the city:
L-410 UVP-E20 is a universal twin-engine aircraft of Czech production for local airlines, accommodating 19 passengers. Designed for operation on unprepared dirt, grass, snow areas, as well as on airfields with short runways (about 600-700 meters), which, in fact, makes it an aircraft in the “off-road” category. The first flight of the L-410 was made on April 16, 1969. The main customer of the aircraft was the Soviet Union. In addition, the L-410 was also supplied to Bulgaria, Brazil, Hungary, East Germany, Libya, and Poland. Despite the fact that the plant is located in the Czech Republic, it considers itself part of the Russian aircraft industry: the foundations for this were laid during its development and during its long history of operation. As of 2012, more than 400 L-410 aircraft are in operation around the world.
Production site of Aircraft Industries in Kunovice, Czech Republic.
The Aircraft Industries plant, better known under the Let Kunovice brand, is located 300 km from Prague. The plant employs 920 people.
The company produces aircraft through a full production cycle - it has its own lines for surface treatment of materials, paint and varnish production, a machine shop, assembly shops, a design bureau and an airport.
L-410 fuselage parts production workshop. The enterprise is expanding and modernizing production - light green equipment is intended for the production of a new generation of the L-410 NG (New Generation) aircraft.
The plant's production capacity is 16-18 new aircraft per year.
About 80% of aircraft are supplied to Russia. Over the past four years, 35 aircraft have been delivered to Russia.
Production of parts on a CNC milling center from the French company Creneau.
Cleaning parts before molding
Forming a part on a press
Punching press
Design documentation - interceptor drawing
Manufacturing of the wing spar on a 5-axis CNC milling center.
The production uses Russian duralumin produced by OJSC Kamensk-Ural Metallurgical Plant. The total share of components from Russia in the L-410 aircraft is about 15% - this is a legacy of the fact that the aircraft was developed by order of the USSR and with the participation of Soviet designers.
Wing panel production
Assembly of the front wing
Checking the quality of riveting on an airplane wing
One L-410 aircraft uses about 185,000 rivets of different types and sizes
Riveting work in the middle part of the fuselage
Installation of floor panels
Production of the rear fuselage
Production of engine air intake parts
Production of air intake parts for the CASA CN-235 aircraft within the framework of industrial cooperation.
The plant also cooperates with Boeing for the Boeing 787 aircraft.
Assembly conveyor for L-410 UVP-E20 aircraft. Located in one of the newest buildings of the plant, originally designed for the production of L-610.
In one half of the building there are two production lines for new L-410 aircraft, in the second half there is a service workshop for aircraft coming out of service.
There are about 10 aircraft in the assembly shop at the same time. The fuselage, wing, end tanks and tail unit come to the beginning of the line from the paint shop.
At the end of the line are aircraft undergoing flight tests and preparing for delivery to customers.
Over the entire history of its existence, the plant has produced over 1,150 aircraft of the L-410 family.
More than 850 of them were delivered to operators in the USSR.
The process of finishing the luggage compartment of an aircraft in the nose after completing the installation of electrical equipment
Emergency exit door assembly
The nose of the aircraft with serial number 2915. The weather radar antenna is visible.
The forward luggage compartment doors are open.
Installation of avionics in the cockpit. Avionics traditionally include devices from Russian manufacturers
Installation of electrical equipment in the aircraft cabin
Installing Wiring Harnesses
Installation of electrical wires on an aircraft wing in the area of the engine nacelle
Five-blade AV-725 propellers (Avia Propeller) together with a GE H80-200 engine make up the new power plant for the L-410 UVP-E20 aircraft. It has been installed on all new aircraft since January 2013 and is certified by EASA and the Russian AR MAK.
Young people in production are not uncommon, also due to the presence of its own vocational technical school on the territory of the plant.
The average age of the company's employees is 44 years.
Work on the GE H-80 engine, carried out by a representative of GE Aviation Czech, Prague (former Walter plant).
The final installation stage takes about 5 months - this is the most expensive part of production, as within its framework, engines, landing gear and all avionics are installed on the aircraft, where each individual unit can cost 100-250 thousand Euros.
The total duration of the aircraft production cycle from the production of the first fuselage components to the end of flight testing takes just under a year.
Cockpit of the L-410 UVP-E20 aircraft.
The aircraft is fully equipped for instrument flights and has an advanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) and TCAS II. The L 410 is designed in the metric system (rather than inches), which is an exception in Western aviation.
This type of aircraft has been used for many years as a graduation aircraft for training pilots at the Sasovo Flight School of Civil Aviation (Ryazan region).
Pre-flight preparation. Stanislav Sklenarz is the chief test pilot of the plant.
Under the wing of an airplane, a view of the river. Morava and the town of Uhersky Ostrog
Aircraft L-410 UVP-E20 for French Guiana.
Airplanes for exotic countries often have bright, memorable colors.
Leaving with a turn
Practical ceiling - 8000 meters
Approaching the runway.
The L-410 aircraft can land both on a paved runway and on grass, soil and snow. UVP in the name of the aircraft means the Russian abbreviation “Shortened Takeoff and Landing,” which also recalls the Russian roots of the aircraft.
Castle Novy Svetlov (1480), Bojkowice.
The medieval Gothic castle Buchlov (13th century) is located 10 km from Kunowice.
Buchlov Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in South Moravia – the south-eastern region of the Czech Republic.
Velehrad Monastery (XIII century) is one of the main pilgrimage churches in the Czech Republic.
In 863 - 866 Christian saints Cyril and Methodius lived and preached in the city of Velegrad.
A prototype of the L-610M aircraft in Staroe Mesto, installed for viewing at the entrance to the city.
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L-410 (photos below) is one of the passenger aircraft models developed by the Czechoslovak company Let. The airliner is designed to transport people, cargo and mail over short distances. In its category it surpasses many analogues in a number of indicators and is considered one of the best.
Short story
Design work under the name L-410 began in 1966 in the Czechoslovak city of Kunovice. Three years later, an experimental model of the model took to the skies. Then it was equipped with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 engines. Over the next few years, the designers significantly modified and improved the aircraft. The key innovation was the new Czech Walter M601 engines, which were developed specifically for it at the aircraft plant in 1973. Later, the company's engineers created a number of modifications of the L-410 aircraft. The model quickly became popular, and individual copies of it appeared on all continents.
In the early nineties of the last century, a real crisis began for the enterprise: there were practically no orders for new aircraft. The situation changed dramatically only in 2008, when 51 percent of its shares were acquired by the Russian company UMMC (five years later it bought the remaining part). The new owners of the plant managed to significantly expand the portfolio of orders and make the model truly in demand on the market. As a result, during this time several dozen aircraft from the line were built and sold to various customers from Ukraine, Brazil, Bulgaria and Slovakia. A significant share of them went to domestic consumers.
Now in the world there are just over 400 aircraft of this line of various modifications. According to expert estimates, for the Russian market alone the demand for these airliners today is about one hundred copies. Work on modernizing the model is not ending at the present time. As for the cost of the L-410, the price of the aircraft starts at 2.4 million euros.
General description and characteristics
It is based on the aerodynamic design of a cantilever high-wing aircraft. The model has a semi-monocoque round fuselage and an all-metal structure. The aircraft is equipped with a three-wheel retractable landing gear with a nose gear. As for the wings, they are straight and trapezoidal in plan. The model is assembled by a Czech company using a full cycle. In other words, there are lines for the production and assembly of all elements and assemblies, from surface treatment of materials to testing at our own airport.
The production version of the airliner, which is very popular these days, is equipped with two GE H80-200 turboprop power plants. The maximum flight range of the model is just over 1.5 thousand kilometers, while the longest flight duration is about five hours. The aircraft is capable of simultaneously carrying 19 passengers on board, excluding crew members.
Key Benefits
Now a few words about the main advantages that the Let L-410 airliner boasts. Reviews from experts in this field indicate that the main one can be called the lowest operating costs in the entire category. In addition, the aircraft is reliable and durable even in extreme conditions. The model’s engines are distinguished by unique traction characteristics that are maintained at fairly low pressure and high temperature. Among other things, this aircraft has the most spacious cabin in its category, a spacious luggage compartment and excellent safety parameters, which provides passengers with a high level of comfort. It should also be noted that the equipment used here is very variable for installing additional options. Thanks to its unique landing gear, the vessel is able to take off and land even on short, grassy and wet strips.
Exploitation
Currently, the L-410 model is successfully operated in more than fifty countries located on five continents. During the entire production of the aircraft, a total of about 1,100 copies were assembled. It is most popular in the countries of the former Soviet Union. As of today, the Czech aircraft plant produces the UVP E20 modification, which is considered the most modern and advanced in the line.
Often, Let L-410 aircraft are operated by airlines that provide air taxi services. In addition, the model is very popular in many world government agencies. It should also be noted that the manufacturing plant always provides its customers with all the necessary service support in a timely manner. The aircraft is also available in amphibious, ambulatory, medical, cargo and executive versions.
The L-410's cabin volume is 632 cubic feet. Thanks to this, even in its standard version, passengers are provided with a fairly high level of comfort. At the same time, one cannot help but note the fact that often its interior is modified and additionally equipped for the purpose of further use in the form of a corporate or private aircraft, where there is everything necessary for rest and work.
Flying in extreme conditions
As noted above, the L-410 aircraft can be operated quite successfully and safely even in difficult weather conditions. According to the technical data sheet, this airliner is designed to operate at temperatures from -50 to +50 degrees. Thus, thanks to its unique design and heavy-duty fuselage, the model is actively used both in the scorching heat of African and Latin American deserts, and in the coldest corners of the planet.
Certification
The L-410 aircraft has been certified and received the appropriate type certificates in many countries, including the Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, Argentina, the Philippines, Australia, Brazil and others. After the European Aviation Safety Agency was established, the model received an EASA certificate, which applies to everything. In addition, the operation of this aircraft is permitted in many other countries on the planet.
The crew performed a custom flight at the request of the Polar Expeditionary Expedition (P. Kuiga) along the route Batagai – Magan – Lensk – Kirensk – Irkutsk. There were two service passengers on board. There was no cargo on board, except for the personal belongings of the crew and passengers with a total weight of about 400 kg.
After arriving at the Kirensk airport at 12:37 Moscow time, the crew’s working time was 11 hours 45 minutes, including 6 hours 17 minutes of flight time. The crew, in violation of the flight crew work hours established by the instructions, decided to proceed to Irkutsk. Then, upon receiving information about the closure of the Irkutsk airport due to runway repairs, the crew postponed the flight and was sent by the air traffic controller to the dispensary. The appearance of the crew at the dispensary was not recorded. After the opening of the Irkutsk airport, navigational control of the crew, in the absence of the duty navigator who was on vacation, was carried out by the air traffic controller, who was not trained for this control.
After undergoing a meteorological consultation at 14:50, at 15:06, in violation of working hours, the crew took off from Kirensk to Irkutsk.
When establishing contact with the approach controller at Irkutsk airport, the crew did not report receiving information from the air navigation service (ATIS), and the controller did not require the crew to listen to it and report it. The approach controller gave instructions to descend from 3000 m to 2100 m. After passing the DPRM, the board was transferred under the control of the circle controller, who also did not request a report on receiving ATIS information, and the crew did not report on receiving this information and on the selected approach system. The circle controller gave instructions to descend to a transition level of 1,800 m. The descent took place in normal weather conditions at night.
At the transition level, in violation of the requirements of NPP GA-85, the crew did not set the pressure on the barometric altimeters to the airfield pressure (710 mm Hg) and did not report the airfield pressure setting to the controller. In turn, the circle controller, having not received the report, did not require the crew to confirm the pressure setting.
As a result, the altimeter readings, which remained at a standard pressure of 760 mmHg, differed from the true altitude by 510 m. At the command of the circle controller, the crew continued to descend to 900 m (according to the altimeter readings, the true altitude was 390 m), and performed a third turn , took 700 m (190 m true altitude) and continued the flight to the fourth turn. After the crew reported “235, on the fourth, 700 m,” the dispatcher gave instructions to communicate with the landing controller. The crew did not have time to confirm the command and end of communication. After 2 seconds, at 17:18:10, the plane touched the tops of trees 25-35 m high, located at an elevation of 163 m with a relative elevation above the airfield of 190 m (the threshold of the airfield runway above sea level is 510 m). The crew set the engines to take-off mode, but after 114 m there was a head-on collision with a tree trunk with a diameter of 35 cm (at the point of impact). The plane, descending along a straight trajectory and continuing to collide with large trees (trunk diameters 85-90 cm at the butt, height up to 35 m), stopped 312 m from the place of the first collision with obstacles, collapsed and partially burned. The accident occurred 21 km from the airport with an azimuth of 122° in the area of the fourth turn with MKpos = 297° (52°09’30” N, 104°39’40” E).
At the time of the disaster, the crew's work time was 15 hours 26 minutes, including 8 hours 30 minutes of flight time, which could have affected the safe outcome of the flight due to crew fatigue.
Actual weather at 17:27 – cloudiness 3 points cumulonimbus 1500 m, 10 points average, upper, wind 300° 9 m/s, visibility 10 km, lightning, tendency – hail, frontal thunderstorm, air temperature +21°С, pressure 711 mm Hg.
The cause of the disaster was a violation by the crew of flight rules, which resulted in failure to comply with the requirements of clause 7.6.9 of the NPP GA-85, regarding the installation of airfield pressure altimeters at the transition level, which led to a collision of the aircraft with the earth's surface.
The disaster was accompanied by the controller’s failure to comply with the operating technology, rules and phraseology of radio exchange in terms of failure to receive a message from the crew about receiving ATIS information, failure to issue them a command to listen to it and report on it, failure to receive from the crew the installation of altimeters at the level of transition to airfield pressure.
– a short-haul aircraft for regional airlines, produced in the Czech Republic since 1969.
The Let L-410 Turbolet was developed in the mid-1960s, specifically for airlines with a length of 500-800 km, which needed a spacious, economical and unpretentious aircraft. In general, in terms of takeoff and landing capabilities, the aircraft was required to have characteristics similar to those of the AN-2.
The Let L-410 Turbolet made its first flight in April 1969.
The safety margin that the designers invested in the aircraft allowed the Let L-410 to take off and land on unprepared airfields and unpaved sites.
The Let L-410's cabin is spacious and equipped with large round windows and reasonable sound insulation. Passenger seats are arranged in a 2+1 configuration.
The liner is capable of carrying up to 19 passengers over a distance of 990 to 1,500 km.
Over the years of production, the aircraft was constantly modernized in accordance with the requirements of the time. Today the aircraft continues to be produced.
Let L-410 Turbolet interior diagram:
Specifications:
ICAO code: L410
Crew: 2 people
Length: 14.42 m
Wingspan: 19.48 m
Maximum capacity: 19 passengers
Maximum take-off weight: 6,400 kg
Cruising speed: 365 km/h
Range of flight: 1,500 km
