Letov Š-19

The Letov Š‑19 was a Czechoslovak single‑engine biplane built by the Letov Kbely factory in the early 1920s. First flown in the spring of 1922, the aircraft was conceived as a primary trainer to replace the ageing Austro‑Hungarian types still in use after World War I. Its structure combined a wooden frame with fabric covering, a single‑bay wing arrangement and a fixed, two‑axle undercarriage. Power was supplied by a 120‑horse‑power Walter NZ‑85 water‑cooled radial engine, delivering a top speed of roughly 180 km/h and a service ceiling of 4 500 m, figures that were respectable for a basic trainer of the era. The cockpit was open, side‑by‑side, allowing easy communication between instructor and pupil, while simple control linkages gave the aircraft forgiving handling characteristics. Only a few dozen Š‑19s entered service, but they proved vital in establishing a domestic pilot‑training programme for the new Czechoslovak Air Force and for civilian flying clubs. The type’s straightforward design and low operating costs helped to foster a self‑sufficient industry at Letov Kbely, laying the technical groundwork for later, more advanced Letov models and cementing the company’s reputation as a cornerstone of interwar Central‑European aviation.

Letov Kbely

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Design & Classification