Aeroplane: Let L-200A Morava

Czechoslovakia
air ambulance

After the Second World War a new idea in aviation was developed - that of transporting small groups of passengers over short distances. In post war Europe the leading role in propagating the idea of "air taxis" (generally twin engine, four or five seaters) was played by Czechoslovakia.

The L-200 Morava was designed in 1957 at the Kunovice LET works, supervised by Ladislav Smrcek. It was an air ambulance and executive aircraft made of an all metal construction with a low wing and double vertical rudders. The XL-200 prototype flew in the same year. Three prototypes in total were built, After testing with different engines the L-200 was mass produced in 1960. Versions differed with various equipment used. 367 examples of the L-200 A and L-200 D were produced, the L-200 D (with three bladed propellers) still in use.

Due to its capabilities the Morava was used as an air ambulance. This type was widely exported to Poland, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The Cuban Air Force ran tests with an armoured version of the aircraft. A single example even reached the USA. Several aviation records were established on the L-200. The OK-PHD aircraft performed a long distance flight in 1962, covering 8200km in a space of 6 days on route through Prague, Belgrad, Athens, Beirut, Bahrain, Karachi and Bombay.

The aircraft on display at the museum, registered as the SP-NXA was donated by the Ambulance Aviation Central Team of Warsaw in 1984.

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