Blanik L-13 TJ

CZECH REPUBLIC

LET (Aircraft Industrie a.s.)

The L-13 (TJ) is an experimental motor glider fitted with a jet engine TJ100 with take-off thrust 1,0 kN from PBS (První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš). It was used as a single-seat motor glider.

At least 2 L-13 has been converted to TJ version, the first one OK-1840 (cn 172016) fitted with a TJ100C and the second OK-3801 (cn 172602)with a TJ100A. Both were used by PBS for TJ100 experimetal tests.

Let L-13 Blanik OK-3801 (cn 172602) Glider with turbojet engine TJ100C, in Jihlava (LKJI), Czech Republic, September 16, 2007. With courtesy of the photograph Daniel Rybka.

Blanik L-13 TJ technical data

Manufacturer	LET
Modified by	PBS
Type	Jet glider
First flight	2006
Nb. built	2 with TJ-100
Crew	2

Power plant

Engine	PBS	TJ-100
Count	1
Type	Turbojet
Max ratings	100 kg	225 lbs

Dimensions

Span	16,20 m	53.15 ft
Length	8,40 m	27.56 ft
Height	2,08 m	6.82 ft
Areas	19,20 m²	204.7 ft²

Weights

Empty	292 kg	644 lb
Crew	kg	lb
Fuel	kg	lb
Engine	kg	lb
Waterballast	Kg	lb
Max. permissible	500 kg	1102 lb

Performances

Vne - Max. speed	253 km/	mph
Vno - Max. speed in operation	km/h	mph
Vs - Stall speed	km/h	mph
Max. rate of climb	0,82 m/s	161 ft/min
Service ceiling	m	ft
Range	km	miles
Best gliding ratio	28:1
Landing distance from 50 ft	m	yds
Take off distance to 50 ft	m	yds
G limits	+	-

Let L-13 Blanik OK-1840 (cn 172016) Glider with turbojet engine TJ100A, in Jihlava (LKJI), Czech Republic, September 11, 2010. With courtesy of the photograph Daniel Rybka.

On the first L13 TJ, OK-1840, the nozzle is divided in 2 exhaust. The vertical stabilizer is protected from dangerous jet hot stream.

LET Blanik L-13

The L-13 Blanik was designed by engineer Karel Dlouhý of VZLÚ Letňany in 1956. New design utilized experience and ideas gained with the Letov XLF-207 Laminar, the first Czech glider which used laminar flow wing profile.

Two-seater L-13 was intended for initial and professional training. New glider entered production in 1958 and quickly became very popular not only among Soviet affiliates but also was widely exported to Western European and North American countries. Blanik's popularity secret was in its simple and cheap whole-metal design, reliability and excellent perfomance. In general were produced 2650 airframes and including various upgrades (L-23 Super Blanik and so on) more than 3000 sailplanes. Even half a century after its first flight Blanik is still the most common glider in the world. US Air Force uses L-13 (under designation TG-10) for initial military pilot's training.

Let Blanik L-13 TJ

CZECH REPUBLIC

Blanik L-13 TJ

Blanik L-13 TJ technical data

Power plant

Dimensions

Weights

Performances

LET Blanik L-13

Liens utiles

Musées interressants

France

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