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The Aero L-60 Brigadýr (Czech: Brigadier) was a small, high-wing propeller-driven Czechoslovakian STOL utility aircraft developed for both civil and military use. A prototype, designated XL-60, with Argus As 10C engine, first flew on December 24, 1953, but it was not successful. The plane was thoroughly redesigned and the second improved prototype, with M-208B flat-six engine, flew on June 8, 1954. The aircraft's configuration bears a strong resemblance to the Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch" licence-produced in Czechoslovakia during and after World War II (as K-65 Čáp), and which this aircraft was intended to replace. By the end of production in 1960, 273 had been built by Aero, including an improved version, the L-160 with an all-metal tail.
| L-60 Brigadýr | |
|---|---|
 L60 as air ambulance at the Polish Aviation Museum | |
| General information | |
| Type | Utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Aero |
| Primary user | Czechoslovakian aviation |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 273 |
| First flight | 24 December 1953 |
Aircraft retrofitted with a PZL-built Ivchenko AI-14R radial engine are known as the L-60S.
Variants
edit- XL-60 : Prototype.
- L-60 : Single-engined light utility transport, observation aircraft.
- L-60A : 50 production aircraft for the Czech Air Force. Also known as the K-60. Armed with MG-15 7.92 mm machine gun in a rear cab. First flew on June 24, 1955.
- L-60B : Agricultural crop spraying aircraft (300 L chemicals tank).
- L-60D : Glider tug aircraft.
- L-60E :Air ambulance aircraft.
- L-60F : Glider tug aircraft.
- L-60S : Aircraft fitted with the PZL-built 260-hp Ivchenko AI-14R radial piston engine.
- L-60SF : Fitted with the M-462RF radial piston engine.
- L-160 : Improved version with all-metal tail.
Operators
editCivil operators
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- MÉM Flight Service used 2 L-60 (registered: HA-BRA, HA-BRB) from 1959 for short period.[1]
- Polish Air Ambulance Service used 3 L-60F in 1957–1974
Military operators
editSpecifications (L-60)
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Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 8.54 m (28 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 13.96 m (45 ft 10 in)
- Height: 2.72 m (8 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 24.30 m2 (261.6 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 8.07:1
- Airfoil: NACA 4412
- Empty weight: 968 kg (2,134 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,460 kg (3,219 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,560 kg (3,439 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 200 L (53 US gal; 44 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Praga Doris M 208-B air-cooled flat-six engine, 140 kW (190 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed Type V-411 wooden controllable pitch, 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 193 km/h (120 mph, 104 kn)
- Cruise speed: 175 km/h (109 mph, 94 kn) at sea level
- Stall speed: 52 km/h (32 mph, 28 kn)
- Range: 720 km (450 mi, 390 nmi) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
- Service ceiling: 4,200 m (13,800 ft)
- Time to altitude:
- 4.3 min to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
- 17.5 min to 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
- Takeoff run to 15 m (50 ft): 240 m (787 ft) (on grass)
- Landing run from 15 m (50 ft): 195 m (640 ft)
See also
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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
edit- Notes
- ^ Moldova György: Égi szekér, Magvető Könyvkiadó, 1982, ISBN 963-271-750-3
- ^ Fernando, GA (Capt), "The Brigadyr Aircraft of the Irrigation Department", The Island, 25 April 2020 [1]
- ^ Krzyżan, Marian, Samoloty w muzeach polskich, Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności, 1983, ISBN 978-83-206-0432-0
- ^ a b Marjánek Letectví a Kosmonautika 1976 No. 6, p. 230
- ^ Taylor 1961, p. 35.
- Bibliography
- Marjánek, Pavel (1976). "Monografie: L-60 Brigadýr: Část I". Letecví a Kosmonautika (in Czech). Vol. 52, no. 6. pp. 227–230.
- Marjánek, Pavel (1976). "Monografie: L-60 Brigadýr: Část II". Letecví a Kosmonautika (in Czech). Vol. 52, no. 7. pp. 268–270.
- Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company.
External links
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