Aero L-60 Brigadýr

The Aero L-60 Brigadýr () was a small, high-wing propeller-driven Czechoslovak 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.

Aircraft retrofitted with a PZL-built Ivchenko AI-14R radial engine are known as the L-60S.

Variants 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

Civil operators

Slov-Air

MÉM Flight Service used 2 L-60 (registered: HA-BRA, HA-BRB) from 1959 for short period.Moldova György: Égi szekér, Magvető Könyvkiadó, 1982,

Polish Air Ambulance Service used 3 L-60F in 1957–1974

Sri LankaFernando, GA (Capt), "The Brigadyr Aircraft of the Irrigation Department", The Island, 25 April 2020

Krzyżan, Marian, Samoloty w muzeach polskich, Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności, 1983,

Military operators

Czechoslovak Air Force

East German Air ForceMarjánek Letectví a Kosmonautika 1976 No. 6, p. 230 Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik

Specifications (L-60)

Aero L-60 Brigadýr

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