Small Czech producer Evektor has some interesting programs underway

Published: 6/28/1999

The small Czech private company Evektor-Aerotechnik based at Kunowice, some 100 km from Prague, is pursuing at least three projects. The most ambitious is a twin engined, high wing monoplane aircraft, with STOL capability known as the Raven 257 undertaken jointly with Wolfsberg Aircraft Corporation of Belgium. Aimed to be certified for flight with a single pilot and up to seven passengers giving it a takeoff weight of 2.7t. The Teledyne Continental IO-550-N piston engines should ensure a 254-km/h cruise speed. Development should be completed by the end of this year, although the program was originally intended to have a prototype flying by the end of May 1999. The aircraft is intended to be a replacement for aircraft such as the BN Islander and is priced in the region of $650,000. At the same time horizontal tail surfaces for Aero 270 Ibis are in final assembly. Full production is to be carried at Kunovice with deliveries to Aero at Odolena Voda. The smallest, but so far most successful of Evektor's project is the EV-97 Eurostar, a two-seat ultralight. The Rotax 912 or 912S-powered aircraft has been marketed in kit form and some 70 units have been sold to date in the experimental class. The marketing analysis showed that certification under JAR-VLA was necessary to expand production and the aircraft conforms to this standard. Evektor's Managing Director Jaroslav Ruzicka, has said that the aircraft will be offered at a very competitive price in comparison with other West European and US designs.

Article ID: 632