Let L-610

The Let L-610 is a prototype aircraft for the Czech civil aircraft manufacturer Let Kunovice made in 1988–1997. It was the largest ever designed aircraft in the country.

L-610
The L-610M X05 in Kunovice museum
Role Airliner, transport aircraft
Manufacturer Let Kunovice
First flight 28 December 1988
Primary user Czech Republic
Number built 8 (6 flying and 2 for structural tests)

Design and development

In the late 1970s, after the success of the LET L-410 twin engine turboprop, the Soviet airline Aeroflot requested that LET design a replacement for the Antonov An-24 aircraft.

LET's L-610 was designed as a twin engined turboprop aircraft powered by the new Czech engine, Walter M602, with a seating capacity of 40. Flight testing was delayed by engine development taking longer than airframe development. Eventually the 1,358 kW (1,822 shp) turboprop engines were finished and the aircraft first flew on 28 December 1988. No aircraft was ever delivered to any commercial customer, although one aircraft was shown in Aeroflot markings during the Paris Air Show in the 1990s. One Let 610 M was delivered to the Czech Air Force,[1] to support manufacturer's certification and test flights process.

After the Soviet collapse LET tried to westernize the plane in order to widen the aircraft's sales appeal. The result was a new model, known as the L-610G, which had General Electric CT7 engines, Rockwell Collins Pro Line II digital EFIS, weather radar and autopilot. The L-610G prototype flew its maiden flight on 18 December 1992; four years after the L-610M.

During the time that the now-defunct Ayres Corp. owned LET, the aircraft was also known as the Ayres L-610, and for a time was marketed as the Ayres 7000. The customer for the Ayres 7000 was to have been City Connexion Airlines before bankruptcy problems sidelined the program.

On 29 August 2019, the UGMC subsidiary, the Ural Works of Civil Aviation and the Russian regional Polar Airlines signed an agreement to supply ten L-610 aircraft from 2023 to 2025 as part of the regional aviation development program of the Russian Federation. The signing took place at the international aerospace forum MAKS 2019 in Moscow.[2]

Variants
L-610M
Basic variant with Walter M602 engines.
L-610G / Ayres 7000
Variant with General Electric XT7-9D engines.
L-610 MPA
Proposed Anti-submarine warfare variant.

Specifications (L-610)
L-610M X01 OK-130 in Staré Město

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot)
  • Capacity: 40 passengers / 5,000 kg (11,023 lb) max payload
  • Length: 21.72 m (71 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 25.6 m (84 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 56 m2 (600 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: NASA MS(1)-0318 ; tip: NASA MS(1)-0312[4]
  • Empty weight: 8,950 kg (19,731 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 14,500 kg (31,967 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CT7-9D turboprop engines, 1,305 kW (1,750 hp) each
  • Propellers: 6-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) [5]
  • Cruise speed: 438 km/h (272 mph, 237 kn)
  • Range: 2,420 km (1,500 mi, 1,310 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,250 m (33,630 ft) [5]
  • Rate of climb: 8.5 m/s (1,670 ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. "History: L-610 Transport Aircraft (a prototype not recommended to employ)". army.cz.
  2. "УЗГА поставит в Якутию 10 самолетов L-610 до 2025 года". www.uwca.ru.
  3. Taylor, M J H (editor) (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. ISBN 978-1-85753-245-6.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  4. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  5. "The Virtual Aviation Museum – Let L 610". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
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