Letov

Letov was a historic Czech aircraft manufacturer based in Prague, established in 1918 by the engineer Emil Letov. In the interwar period, the company produced a range of military aircraft for the Czechoslovak Air Force, including reconnaissance and fighter designs, as well as trainer and liaison aircraft. Letov contributed to the development of Czechoslovak aviation during a time of rapid growth in European aeronautics, and its products reflected the era’s emphasis on locally designed, mass-produced military aircraft. The firm operated from its Prague facilities and helped expand the Czech Republic’s aerospace industry, with some aircraft reaching export customers.

During World War II, production continued under occupation conditions, with a shift in emphasis to meet wartime requirements. After the war, the Czech aviation industry underwent nationalization and consolidation within the state-controlled economy. Letov ceased to operate as an independent manufacturer in the postwar years, as its assets and workforce were reorganized and absorbed into larger state enterprises. Despite the dissolution of the Letov brand, the company’s engineering heritage influenced later Czech aerospace initiatives through the transfer of expertise and designs into postwar programs. The Letov name remains a part of the historical record of early Czechoslovak aviation.