Letov Š-28

The Letov Š‑28 was a Czechoslovak single‑engine, two‑seat monoplane developed by Letov Kbely in the early 1930s. Conceived as a versatile trainer and liaison aircraft, the Š‑28 first flew in 1932 and entered limited service with the Czechoslovak Air Force the following year. Its wooden wing and fabric‑covered fuselage were built around a robust, low‑power Walter Vega radial engine delivering 120 hp, which gave the plane a modest top speed of 210 km/h and a range of roughly 700 km. The high‑wing layout provided excellent downward visibility, while the side‑by‑side cockpit facilitated instruction and short‑range transport. Lightweight construction and simple fixed‑gear undercarriage made maintenance straightforward, an advantage for both military units and civilian aero clubs that later operated the type. Although only a small batch of about 30 airframes was produced, the Š‑28 demonstrated Letov’s capability to design reliable, low‑cost aircraft during a period of rapid technological change. Its role as a trainer helped shape a generation of Czechoslovak pilots, and its straightforward design influenced later Letov models such as the Š‑31 and Š‑32, marking the Š‑28 as a modest but important step in interwar aviation development.

Letov Kbely

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