LILIENTAL’ ZAO (LILIENTHAL JSC)

The company (which adopts the German spelling of aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal for marketing in the West) and its predecessors have built 15 types of aircraft, from hang-gliders (first flight 4 September 1975) to twins. Lilienthal was formed by Anatoly Borodin and Valentin Loskov out of the hang-glider club associated with the KhGAPP aircraft plant, transforming into an ultralight club in 1976 and establishing a design bureau within Kharkov factory in 1987.
Lilienthal was established as a firm in 1991, manufacturing the Kh-37 (X-37) Chibis hang-glider and moving two years later to the Kh-32 (X-32) Bekas. By 2003, more than 100 of each had been built, production continuing at a rate of 10 per year. All current types have a Russian type certificate. Manufacture is conducted in close association with related companies Otto Ltd and Gustav Ltd. Lilienthal is also a service centre for Rotax engines and licensed for flying instruction.
It will be noted that the Kh-designations of the Kharkov-designed aircraft of Lilienthal retain the Cyrillic 'X' for Western trading.