Evektor
From gyroplanes and motor gliders on a Moravian airfield, Evektor built the first light sport aircraft the FAA ever accepted and a 14-seat turboprop that stalled on the eve of certification.
Evektor: the company and the aircraft that made its name
An airfield with a history
Evektor-Aerotechnik sits on Kunovice airfield in Moravia, aircraft country since 1936 and also home to Let, maker of the L-410. Its story starts in 1970 with Aerotechnik, set up to build small aircraft: its first programmes were the L-13 Vivat motor glider and the A-70 autogyro. Later it specialised in overhauling Czech light aircraft, including the Zlín family, and in 1997–2004 it made airframe parts for Aero Vodochody’s Ae 270 turboprop.
The first American light sport aircraft
From 1996 Evektor moved into ultralights and light sport aircraft, starting with the P220UL Koala and the EV-97 Eurostar of 1997. Its all-metal SportStar was designed for flight schools, and when the FAA brought in its light sport rules it became the first aircraft accepted as a special light sport aircraft in the United States. Some 600 were in service by the end of 2006, and more than 1,000 of one Eurostar version have been built; the company says it exports to more than fifty countries.
The Outback that waited
The four-seat VUT100 Cobra followed in 2004, then the bigger ambition: the EV-55 Outback, a 9–14 seat twin turboprop for rough strips, first flown on 24 June 2011. Development was suspended in March 2017 over uncertainty with a Malaysian investor. Parent company Evektor reported a 2020 loss of 168 million koruna on sales of 248 million.
Evektor in numbers
The company
- In short
- Founded 1970
- Began as Aerotechnik at Kunovice
- Light sport and ultralight specialist since 1996
- Exports to more than fifty countries (company claim)
Production
- Best known for
- SportStar, EV-55
- SportStar, Eurostar and Harmony light aircraft
- VUT100 Cobra four-seater
- EV-55 Outback twin turboprop prototype
Today
- Now
- Independent, Kunovice
- SportStar and Eurostar families
- EV-55 development suspended in 2017
The numbers
- SportStars in service
- about 6002006
- Revenue (parent EVEKTOR spol. s r.o.)
- 248 million CZK2020
- Net loss (parent)
- 168 million CZK2020
Every notable Evektor aircraft
| Aircraft | Role | First flight | Built | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotechnik A-70 Autogyro | Autogyro | Retired | |||
| Aerotechnik L-13 Vivat | Motor glider | Retired | |||
| Evektor P220UL Koala | Ultralight | 1996 | Retired | ||
| Evektor EV-97 Eurostar | Ultralight | 1997 | In production | More than 1,000 of the SL+ version built | |
| Evektor SportStar | Light sport aircraft | In production | First FAA-accepted special light sport aircraft | ||
| Evektor VUT100 Cobra | Four-seat light aircraft | 2004 | Retired | Lacks EASA and FAA type certificate | |
| Evektor EV-55 Outback | 9–14 seat utility turboprop | 24 June 2011 | Retired | Development suspended March 2017 |
Where Evektor built, who led it, what it achieved
Factories
- Kunovice works · Kunovice Airport, Moravia
Records and firsts
- SportStar: first aircraft accepted as a special light sport aircraft by the US FAA
Evektor, year by year
Aerotechnik founded
Light sport and ultralight production begins with the Koala
EV-97 Eurostar introduced
VUT100 Cobra introduced
SportStar first aircraft accepted as US light sport aircraft
EV-55 Outback first flight
EPOS electric aircraft introduced
First production-conforming EV-55 flies
EV-55 development suspended
Everything people ask about Evektor
Where is Evektor based?
What is the Evektor SportStar?
What happened to the EV-55 Outback?
When was Evektor founded?
Around Evektor
Every fact, checked
- Evektor-Aerotechnik — Wikipedia
- Evektor-Aerotechnik — Wikipedia (Czech)
- Evektor SportStar — Wikipedia
- Evektor VUT100 Cobra — Wikipedia
- Evektor EV-55 Outback — Wikipedia
Verified 2026-10-03.