Aero L-60 Brigadyr

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The Aero L-60 a small, propeller-driven, STOL, utility aircraft developed for both civil and military use. The L-60 was built to replace the aircraft which it bears a resemblance to, the Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch" licence-built as K-65 Čáp during and after World War 2,
Originally designated XL-60, with an Argus As 10C engine, after the first flight on 24 December, 1953 proved unsatisfactory, the aircraft was redesigned thoroughly.
The second prototype was given an M-208B engine flew on 8 June 1954. When production ceased in 1960, 273 L-60s had been built, which includes the L160 version which had the tail replaced with an all-metal one.
A version known as the L-60S is simply an L60 refitted with PZL license-built Ivchenko AI-14R radial engine.

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Brigadýr is not any product of Aero company. It was designed by the Czech state Aviation Research and Testing Institute (VZLÚ) in Prague Letòany and produced by small aircraft producer Orlièan in Choceò in Eastern Bohemia. That factory was originally the Beneš - Mráz company, which designed and produced numerous remarkable light sporting aeroplanes and gliders from 30's. The factory was utilized by German occupants for small aircraft production during the war. The most important was Fiesseler Storch, which was used by Czechoslovak Air Force, aeroclubs and agricultural flight operators after the war and then it was replaced by the Brigadýr multi-purpose AC.
The Orlièan company also produced wooden M-1 Sokol (Falcon) and then metallic L-40 Meta-Sokol tourist aeroplanes, numerous gliders including VT-116 Orlík and VSO-10 Gradient and nowadays it belongs to German Schempp-Hirth famous glider producer and builds the S-H composite gliders.
Brigadýrs were widely used in Czechoslovakia, at the end they came to aeroclubs for glider towing (also towing from fields) and para dropping (3 parachutists may be carried). Several pieces were also exported (East Germany, Hungary, Switzerland,...). Due to lack of spare engines and parts the Czechoslovak L-60's were re-built for Russian AI-14 radial engines and in this shape some of them still fly as the L-60S version in Czech and Slovak aeroclubs. The reconstruction was designed and performed by former Aerotechnik (also producer of L-13SW /SE Vivat TMG family), nowadays Evektor company in Kunovice. Only about 2 pcs remained in original state with the Praga M-208B flat 6-cylinder as shown in the picture.

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My glider club in Germany had one of these as a towplane and it is a very interesting airplane !

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Hi again, Sorry forgot to add the comment "in English" /Ola

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Hi, I'm PPL pilot and search for flt manual for L-60 Brigadyr. Any good advice?
BR Ola

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