SP-FTN ¦ EPLR 02.07.1992
LET L.410MU (c/n 781102)
Przedsiębiorstwo EXIN
Lublin-Radawiec (EPLR)
02 July 1992
In early 1992 Polish cargo carrier Przedsiębiorstwo EXIN acquired a whole bunch of former Aeroflot LET.410s. All received Polish marks, but were still in full Aeroflot colours and were parked in a grass compound at Lublin airport. The intention of operating the batch on behalf of DHL did not materialize, and Antonov AN-26s were acquired instead.
This particular frame was built as a LET.410M for Aeroflot and delivered in 1978 as CCCP-67291. In 1985 it was converted to the L.410MU variant. The MU variant had increased wing and tail areas and was STOL-capable, albeit at the price of a reduced payload of 15 instead of 19 passengers.
In January 1992 the aircraft became SP-FTN with EXIN, and as such was seen basking in the sun, awaiting its fate. An hour-long negotiation by my friend who was fluent in Polish eventually granted us access to the compound, and the LET.410s. Remember, this was still communist Poland, and it needed a whole lot of explanations of what exactly a plane spotter is doing, and why he wants to take photos of aircraft!
By early 1993 the registration SP-FTN was cancelled, and the aircraft was sold to an unknown owner for use as a bar in Białe Błota, near Bydgoszcz, where it was reported as late as 2009 in Pepsi Cola livery.
By 2013 the aircraft had been moved to Canpol Racing, Człuchów, Pomorskie, and put up on display, mounted on poles. Recent images show it still there, now in a bright red and black livery.
SP-FTN ¦ EPLR 02.07.1992
LET L.410MU (c/n 781102)
Przedsiębiorstwo EXIN
Lublin-Radawiec (EPLR)
02 July 1992
In early 1992 Polish cargo carrier Przedsiębiorstwo EXIN acquired a whole bunch of former Aeroflot LET.410s. All received Polish marks, but were still in full Aeroflot colours and were parked in a grass compound at Lublin airport. The intention of operating the batch on behalf of DHL did not materialize, and Antonov AN-26s were acquired instead.
This particular frame was built as a LET.410M for Aeroflot and delivered in 1978 as CCCP-67291. In 1985 it was converted to the L.410MU variant. The MU variant had increased wing and tail areas and was STOL-capable, albeit at the price of a reduced payload of 15 instead of 19 passengers.
In January 1992 the aircraft became SP-FTN with EXIN, and as such was seen basking in the sun, awaiting its fate. An hour-long negotiation by my friend who was fluent in Polish eventually granted us access to the compound, and the LET.410s. Remember, this was still communist Poland, and it needed a whole lot of explanations of what exactly a plane spotter is doing, and why he wants to take photos of aircraft!
By early 1993 the registration SP-FTN was cancelled, and the aircraft was sold to an unknown owner for use as a bar in Białe Błota, near Bydgoszcz, where it was reported as late as 2009 in Pepsi Cola livery.
By 2013 the aircraft had been moved to Canpol Racing, Człuchów, Pomorskie, and put up on display, mounted on poles. Recent images show it still there, now in a bright red and black livery.