UAB Sportine Aviacija
UAB Sportine aviacija was established in 1969. At that time it was (and still remains) the only enterprise in the Baltic countries and in the former Soviet Union designing, manufacturing and repairing sailplanes. The event of establishing such kind of factory in Lithuania was based on the old national gliding, gliders' building and aviation traditions. The first fiberglass sailplane BK-7 "Lietuva" test flights were made in 1972. This sailplane had became prototype for major future constructions. During the factory's history were designed, built and tested 19 different types and modifications of the gliders and self-launching sailplanes, as well. More than 1000 two-place gliders L-13 "BLANIK" were overhauled. About 250 pcs of the LAK-12 Open Class sailplanes are flying in 20 countries of the world and have good reputation.
The structure of the factory includes:
-Design department
-Production department
-Test flight station
A few yeares ago they are draw in the works on American designed Standard Class glider GENESIS 2 project: They developed engineering part of design, completed strength tests and calculations according international aviation standards. Type certification works according JAR-22 were finished and the serial production of this unusual glider was established. They built about 30 pieces of Genesis 2 sailplane.
Main products of the company at the moment:
-LAK17A FAI 15-18m class sailplane
-LAK19 FAI standard-18m class sailplane
-Motorized version of LAK17A and LAK19
-twoseater LAK-20 open class sailplane
They have EASA Certificate for production and design and can perform production of sailplanes, self-launching sailplanes, related products and parts. They produce also all other equipment for ground handling of sailplanes, like stands, one man rigging equipment, water filling equipment...
They have some experience to restore old-timers,: few years ago was restored into flying condition Focke Wulf FW-44J "Stieglitz" originally made on 1938.
In production they use western type advanced composite materials and procedures. Glass and carbon fibres, kevlar are combined with cold and hot hardening epoxy or polyester resins with vacuum bagging. They are able to produce the molds themselves.
The company's buildings located in the village of Pociunai near a big airfield. There are sailplanes manufacturing, mechanical workshops and small divisions of electronic and galvanic. To produce main spar of the LAK-12 they used the autoclave (11 meters long, 0.9 meter diameter, operation temperature 160 degrees Celsius and pressure - 6 kilograms per sq. centimeter).
Major of senior managers and engineers graduated aviation universities. In general personnel is experienced and qualified. Now they have 95 employees. The biggest number of employees was in 1983 - 600. So there are wide opportunities to expand production output.
Statute capital of the company is 2,97 mln. USD. All shares of the company belongs to private persons - managers. Various factory buildings take up 9200 sg.m., including the manufacturing workshop of 7400 sg.m.
Possible items for co-operation or manufacturing:
- Serial or experimental production of the aircraft, gliders (self-launching gliders), tests according JAR including
- Assembly of the kits
- Windmill blades
- Plastic bodies for experimental cars
- Screencrafts ventilator blades, catamaran hulls, water bike bodies
big airfield just near the factory
