Letov Š-16

The Letov Š‑16 was a Czechoslovakian three‑engine, high‑wing monoplane designed in the late 1920s by the Letov Kbely factory for long‑range reconnaissance and light transport duties. First flown in 1928, the Š‑16 entered service with the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1929 and later attracted export orders from Poland, Yugoslavia, Romania and the Soviet Union. Its airframe combined a wooden wing and fabric‑covered fuselage with a steel tube nose section, while the three radial engines—typically a 300 hp Walter Mercury or a 350 hp Gnome‑Rhone—were mounted on the wing leading edge and in the nose, providing redundancy and a respectable payload of up to 800 kg. The aircraft featured a spacious cabin for a crew of two plus several passengers or photographic equipment, and could achieve a cruising speed of 210 km/h with a range exceeding 1 200 km. The Š‑16 proved adaptable, serving as a trainer, ambulance and courier platform during the 1930s. Its reliability and multi‑role capability made it a benchmark for interwar utility aircraft, influencing later Letov designs and contributing to Czechoslovakia’s reputation as a competent aircraft producer in Europe. Production continued until 1935, with a total of 70 airframes built, many of which remained in operational use until the outbreak of World War II.

Letov Kbely

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Design & Classification