LET L-13 Blaník

what is it?

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 was used for basic flight training up to 2012.

🔎How to recognise it: shoulder wing · 16.2 m wingspan

base stats

• size 500 kgmax take-off weight
• built 2,649made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 70 years ago, in 1956.
• 🚗Wingspan of 16.2 m: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.

no engine: No engine: it glides on rising air.

spec sheet

first flight

1956

introduced

1958

number built

2,649

role

two seater class sailplane

origin

🇨🇿 Czechoslovakia

makers

LET Aircraft Industries

engines

none (glider)

crew

2

length

8.4 m

wingspan

16.2 m

max take-off weight

500 kg

top speed

—

range

—

wings

shoulder wing

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.