LAK-19T for sale
L-13 Blanik test flight
The legendary Blanik L-13 has risen up again, opening up the way to the skies for other grounded L-13 Blaniks.
miniLAK comes to America
Congratulations to the first U.S. buyer on ordering the LAK-13,5 Mini !
Here are more photos of this excellent new glider. Click here.
L-13 Blaniks AD update
On
December 21, 2015, the EASA issued a Major Change Approval no. 10056149
to the L-13 Blanik type certificate.
Prospect of availability of new L23s in the future is good
The
likelihood of the availability of new L23 Super Blanik two-place
gliders in the future is good. When in September 2014 we met in Europe
with the operatives of the project, they were at the stage of securing
production facilities. At that time negotiations were also underway
between the investors and the manufacturing team about the production
cost.
As soon as we are given the green light to start offering
the new L23s we will make an announcement on our website in the News
section.
Blanik Type Certificates transferred
Recently, Aircraft Industries a.s., the maker of Blanik gliders, sold all type certificates and production documentation for Blaniks to a Russian company, S7 Engineering. If the currently ongoing negotiations with S7 are successful for Aircraft Industries, the Blaniks may again be manufactured at Kunovice, the home of Aircraft Industries. We will keep you informed.
21 meter wing extension for LAK17B gliders
We are excited to announce the availability of a brand new wing extension for LAK17B gliders. The wing extension increases the wing span to 21 meters, making the LAK17B an Open Class glider in that configuration. This increases the versatility of LAK17B in addition to its 18 meter and 15 meter wingspans which have been available already. An introductory incentive is available to first five worldwide buyers ordering the 21 m extensions during the month of September:
The
LAK-17B FES Flight Impression 
The five-page article with photos published in the March 2013 issue of the SOARING magazine.
L-13 Blaniks AD update
August 8, 2013.
After months of silence we heard again from the FAA. They wrote a letter to the SSA. Click here for copy.
DO NOT HAUL YOUR L-13 BLANIKS TO A GARBAGE DUMP! HELP IS AROUND THE CORNER!
January 9, 2013.
Finally, we heard some news from the FAA. The major operative has been reassigned, and an FAA specialist appointed in charge (who in the past has been positively instrumental in getting gliders in the air). Hopefully we will see some change.
THE FAA SAID ON 1/9/2013:
"Our review of AD&C's data submittal was completed.
This review has been captured in six issue papers. Four of
these papers,
which identifies our findings, have been sent to EASA for
clarification of
our positions. These papers were sent in March, September,
and October of
2012..
Our management has requested an aviation
authority-to-authority meeting comprised of EASA's specialists
and the
FAA's review panel to discuss our findings. We are
currently waiting
on EASA's response to when this meeting can occur. As soon
as a date is
established, we will let you know. The remaining two issue
papers will be
sent after culmination of our meeting with EASA.
I know this has been a difficult time and I apologize for this
major
disruption to you and the L-13 Blanik owners. I assure you
we are working
to facilitate a process for a safe resolution to this major
airworthiness
concern."
Electric motors for gliders - FES
Blanik America has been appointed the United States distributor for LZ Design of Slovenia, the manufacturer of electric motors for gliders (FES - Front Electric Sustainer). Click here for more.
L-13 Blaniks
On September 20, 2012 the FAA sent the issue paper to EASA. Read more in "L-13 Blanik AD" below in this News.
While the FAA is still preventing the L-13 Blaniks from flying, elsewhere in the world the L-13 Blaniks are flying. In Australia, a substantial modification was developed which goes farther than the AD&C modification. Check it out here.
L-13 Blaniks are alive and kicking!
Take a look at this exciting video, published May 14, 2012 :
When you click on the rectangle in the lower right, you will see the video full-screen. Turn on the sound and enjoy!
The Red Bull Skydive Team recently performed a spectacular performance high in the skies above Austria well worthy of any James Bond film. As part of the project Akte Blani(X) 3, the five-man squadron set off in hot pursuit of two Blanix gliders cruising 4,000 metres above the ground. In one of the most daring wingsuit manoeuvres ever seen, the skydivers then inched their way towards the aircraft before flying along side by side at speeds in excess of 180km/h.
LAK-17B FES drew a big crowd at the SSA 2012 Convention in Reno
The high performance racing sailplane LAK-17B with electric propulsion was exhibited at the Soaring Society of America Convention in Reno during the first week of February 2012. It drew a big crowd with pilots flocking around it in large numbers.
For picture presentation cick on LAK-17B FES at Reno .
Read more about the LAK-17B FES here.
L-13 Blanik AD update
September 2012
The FAA branch responsible for the AD which grounded the Blaniks two years ago wrote on September 20, 2012:
"Just want to let you know we've sent EASA
our issue paper review of the
structural substantiation. This paper addresses many of our
primary
structural concerns with AD&C's procedures. I will be
sending the
remaining papers to EASA next week. Once EASA has had time
to review them,
we (FAA) will set up a technical meeting with EASA and AD&C
to address our
concerns. As I previously mentioned concerning the issues
we've found, we
can only have discussions with EASA and the applicant and not the
general
public."
While the FAA is still preventing the L-13 Blaniks from flying, elsewhere in the world the L-13 Blaniks are flying. In Australia, a substantial modification was developed which goes farther than the AD&C modification. Check it out here.
July 11, 2012.
The FAA advised that,.. "Our positions on all but one of our issue papers is complete. We should have the final issue paper finished this week. We anticipate forwardingthese papers to EASA early next week for their review. EASA will then forward these papers to AD&C. Once EASA and AD&C has had time to review them, we (FAA) will set up a meeting with EASA and AD&C to discuss our findings."
May 2012. AD&C, the STC developer, is awaiting a conclusive issue paper from the FAA outlining what specifically the FAA still wants to see proven. The FAA has not sent that paper yet. Pressure from the Blanik community on the FAA Small Airplane Directorate in Kansas City, which is handling the issue, is mounting and hopefully will soon have effect. In the meantime, the L-13 Blaniks in the rest of the world are flying.
February 28, 2012. The EASA issued Revision 1 to the Supplemental type certificate, No. 10035295. The revision extends the service life of the L-13 Blanik to 5000 hours, without the use of aerobatics; or 3750 hours with 2 % aerobatics allowed. In the meantime, North American Blanik owners are still waiting for the FAA to conclude its review of the STC.
February 3, 2012. The FAA issued a statement to the SSA. Click here for the text.
December 5, 2011
AD&C,
the STC
developer, advised recently:
Unfortunately we have no estimate if and when FAA will
approve our STC. We
are currently working on a change to the STC to approve 5000h
total airframe
life without aerobatics as supposed to the currently approved
3750h with 2%
aerobatics. This will alternatively be available at the same
cost. There is a
chance that FAA approves this version easier since it does not
require any
airplane records which is one of the concerns they have.
November 7, 2011
The
FAA works
on issue papers. Regretfully
things are still moving very slowly. During a long teleconference
with the FAA operative in charge, the FAA said, ..."Had the
FAA been involved in the STC request evaluation from the start,
together with the EASA, perhaps the STC would have been accepted
by the FAA by now. However, since we were not included, we
now feel compelled to ask the EASA for substantiation of their
decision (to issue the STC)." This government to government
exchange may take
months more. It is uncertain how much longer.
The good news is that work has not stopped on the evaluation and
that the FAA wants to approve a fix once they are convinced it is
safe and sound. For that purpose, currently the FAA is preparing
issue papers to send to the EASA, for them to substantiate the
STC.
June 20, 2011
The European EASA issued the AMOC Approval No. 10035384. The Alternative method of compliance (AMOC) satisfies the Airworthiness Directive, whereby the glider may be again operated within the conditions and limitations set by the original glider type certificate after the AMOC is performed.
June 14, 2011
The European EASA issued the Supplemental type certificate, No. 10035295.
Aircraft Design and Certification Ltd. reported today, "After quite some ups and down in the project to regain the airworthiness of the Blanik we finally are on the other side of the finishing line. The STC has been granted by EASA today."
Hopefully the FAA will follow suit soon.
May 2, 2011
Aircraft Design and Certification Ltd. and Blanik America signed an agreement whereby AD&C appointed Blanik America their exclusive distributor of L-13 Blanik modification kit and drawings for U.S.A. and Canada.
May 1, 2011
Elisa Bretterebner reported on the First Flight of the first modificated Blanik L-13 worldwide. Click here for more photos.
Germany, April 8, 2011
AD&C, an engineering service provider with EASA Part 21 Subpart J Design organization approval received the approved flight conditions for the first modified airplanes from EASA. It is expected that the STC finalization will take perhaps another four weeks.
The representatives of Blanik America hope to meet with the key engineers of AD&C at AERO-Friedrichshafen.
Below is an extract from the press release which was issued on April 8, 2011.
Aircraft Design and Certification Ltd. (AD&C) is developing a supplemental type certification (STC),
including a structural modification as well as an inspection and replacement program, as method of
compliance for EASA-AD-2010-0185-E. The approval process utilized a cooperation arrangement with
the type certificate holder Aircraft Industries (formerly “LET”). The STC is now available at AD&C.
The STC is based on elaborate 3D geometry and load path analysis (by reverse engineering) and is
verified by high quality finite element method (FEM) calculations and structural testing including
strain verification. Even individual rivet/bolt load analysis has been performed to identify the root
cause of the problem. The well known and approved load spectra KosMos, incorporating a realistic
quantity of aerobatic maneuvers, is adapted and applied for the analysis of the Blaník wing and
fuselage carry through sections. Further analysis includes the horizontal tail attachment area. Based
on the findings of the analyses 3 new parts have been designed and installed to improve the load
transfer from wing spar to fuselage. Hi-Lok® bolts, known to have superior fatigue resistance, are
used to exchange the critical rivet in rivet spar cap connections and to ease later inspections in the
affected areas.
Currently the STC is at final approval stage by EASA; approval by FAA has been applied for. Current
types of aircraft are the L-13, the L-13A will be included shortly. The permissible operational life of
the modified area is prolonged to a total of at least 6000h (irrespective of the accuracy of individual
historical records), however the limitations of the rest of the aircraft cannot be changed, without
according in depth analysis, from the original 3750h. AD&C is considering a further program for a
general life time extension, pending on market response.
The modification can be installed at any Part-145/Part-M or equivalent approved maintenance
organisation having the Blaník within their scope of approval. In the course of the modification,
personnel approved (EN 4179 or NAS 410) for non-destructive testing utilizing Eddy current, optical
(borescope) and dye penetrant inspection techniques is required.
Aircraft
Industries, a.s.
Kunovice December 6, 2010.
Aircraft Industries (AI for short, formerly known as LET) sent
an inspection procedure draft for approval to EASA. The request
was accepted by EASA and the project was launched. EASA
established a project manager with whom AI established contact
and is currently completing a translation of the certification
program and gradually preparing the inspection material.
VZLU (the Aviation Research Institute in Prague) is developing
the inspection process eddy current methodology for cracks. The
process will be verified in the next phase on the samples of
critical points of various crack sizes to determine the minimum
size of an identifiable fracture.
The factory indicated that it will inform about the further
development progress.
Black Forest Soaring Society pilots, one of them flying a LAK-17AT sailplane made an excellent showing at the U.S. Region 9 Contest in Parowan. "In 18 meter, Clay Thomas in a LAK 17AT, VH, moved into first place overall with a winning speed of 95.1 MPH!!! On Day 4 Clay won the 18 m class in the LAK-17AT and Rick won the 15 m class while Dave moved up to 2nd over all. They were smoking!" Click here for the Contest Results.
| Exciting new models of L-13 Blanik and L23 Super Blanik became available. So exciting that Blanik America has purchased a good supply of them in order to be able to offer the models to customers. The models are very finely crafted kits with numerous design schemes. | |
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We are convinced that buyers will be really pleased with them. Call (509) 884-8305 or email us. Click here to send us your request. |
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ABADIE BERARD MARYLINE flying a LAK-17A won the 2009 French Feminine Championships.
The
latest
from Sportine Aviacija - the newest model LAK-17BT sailplane. Click
here for photos from test flights.
The factory team
is quite pleased that their high expectations are being met. They
reported:
"On May 7,
2009 in
Leshno, one day before the Polish Open Class Championship,
Sportine Aviacia with the help from the Polish gliding team have
done comparison flight testing of the LAK-17BT and ASG-29. Both
gliders were loaded to the same 56 kg/m2 wing loading. The tests
were done at 200km/h; 160km/h and 120km/h. At all speeds, the
LAK-17BT was equal or better than the ASG-29."
The U.S. Civil Air Patrol ordered four more new L23 Super Blanik two-place training gliders for their operation. Altogether, the CAP operates over 25 Blaniks distributed evenly among the 50 U.S. states.
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