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.

Továrny

• Kunovice works · Kunovice Airport, Moravia

Rekordy a prvenství

• SportStar: first aircraft accepted as a special light sport aircraft by the US FAA