User:ArunasG/ESAG - Eksperimentinė sportinės aviacijos gamykla

Plant of Experimental Sport Aviation (Lithuanian: Eksperimentinės sportinės aviacijos gamykla (ESAG)) – was state owned gliders' / sailplanes' production company, established in 1967 in Prienai, Lithuania.

History
An Experimental Sport Aviation Workshop (Lith. Eksperimentinės sportinės aviacijos dirbtuvės (ESAD)) was established in 1967 under the Experimental Scientific Research Institute of Metal Cutting Machine Tools (Lith. Eksperimentinis metalo pjovimo staklių mokslinio tyrimo institutas).

In Spring 1969 the workshop was moved into the premises of former dairy in Prienai.

First product of ESAD - wooden basic trainer BrO-11M „Zylė“ was -produced in July 1969.

Initial staff of ESAD consisted of 12, by the end of 1970 it has increased up to 40.

On November 27, 1970 m. gliders' pilot Vytautas Pakarskas became the director of ESAD. Soon constructors Bronius Oškinis and Antanas Paknys joined in.

On May 1, 1972 ESAD was renamed ESAG - Plant of Experimental Sport Aviation (Lithuanian: Eksperimentinės sportinės aviacijos gamykla)

BK-7 „Lietuva“
in 1972 Balys Karvelis developed BK-7 "Lietuva" - the first fiberglass Open class glider. BK-7 became a prototype of Lithuanian fiberglass gliders for the years to come.

On December 8, 1972, BK-7 "Lietuva" was flown for the first time.

BK-7 was further improved in 1975, with the wing extension by 2.2 m, what increased its aerodynamic quality form 43 to 46. in 1975 a decision was taken instead of constructors' initials to start using single brand of Lithuanian Aviation Construction (Lith. Lietuviška aviacinė konstrukcija)

The next development of Karvelis' sailplane was LAK-9 „Lietuva“, tested in May 1976. LAK-9 „Lietuva“.

On December 11, 1979, the new model LAK-12 „Lietuva“ flew for the first time. LAK-12 was the terminal variant of BK-7. Until 1990 it was the main product of ESAG. A total of 235 LAK-12's were made and used in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, South African Republic, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

Privatisation
With the restoration of Lithuanian independence the ESAG was transformed into private limited liability company „Sportinė aviacija”.