Letov LF-107 Luňák (c/n 34, OK-0820), flying display at 32nd edition of Aviatická pouť air show, Pardubice, June 2024.
On 25th June 1948, prototype of the new Czechoslovak aerobatic glider LF-107 Luňák (English: kite) performed its maiden flight. The aircraft was made by Rudý Letov (English: Red Letov) company based in Prague-Letňany and developed by construction team led by Vladimír Štros.
Shortly after, the prototype was officially presented to Czechoslovak authorities, including the military officials. Later the same year, the glider participated in aerobatic competition in Grenchen, Switzerland, where it aroused a big interest.
In conclusion, the Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence approved the glider for serial production and the first order was placed. The initial plan expected to build at least 250 examples of the LF-107.
An interesting fact is that in June of 1949, one of the LF-107 prototypes took part in the first International Gliding Competition of People´s Democracy Countries (Międzynarodowe Zawody Szybowcowe Państw Demokracji Ludowej) at Żar glider training centre in Poland.
The serial production of Luňák was launched in 1950. Regrettably, it was discontinued after just one year after completing only 75 examples of the glider (including prototypes). The reason was insufficient manufacturing capacity at Letov. The company was assigned the task of producing military aircraft and they were given the highest priority and, therefore, making any further building of gliders impossible.
The LF-107 gliders were widely used in Czechoslovakia until the end of 1960s. Today, the surviving airworthy examples are one of the most-liked historical sailplanes, due to their flight and aerobatic characteristics.
The example of LF-107 Luňák featured within our Photo of the Week series was built in 1950. In 2017, the glider was renovated to airworthy condition and registered as OK-0820.
The aircraft is currently painted as ´W-15´(VT7.48), one of the Luňák gliders used by the Czechoslovak armed forces. Up to four examples of that type of glider were operated by the Czechoslovak glider training squadron in Stráž pod Ralskem. In the military service, the gliders were designated as VT7.xx (the last two digits were the construction number) and had tactical numbers W-13 to W-16.
