Hinton Skydiving, based at Hinton-in-the-Hedges, UK, uses a Let-410 UVP turboprop for skydiving lessons. EBAN spoke to Mike Brown, head of Hinton Skydiving, about the advantages of the Czech-built aircraft:\r"They are brilliant skydiving aircraft, designed for short haul. The equivalent in this country would cost you nearly double - the nearest thing is a SC-7 Skyvan, and there's hardly any of those running any more, they are just about worn out," said Brown. \r"They are very reliable aircraft - in fact they are built like a brick. People think, eastern block, oh no, but that's a very naive, sweeping statement. \r"The Let-410s were built with no expense spared. It didn't really matter in the communist state, they just poured money in. \r"So, rather than having wires, pulleys and cables, everything is control rodded, every single part of the aircraft is earthed. Little things like that put it streets ahead of other aeroplanes."\rThe Let-410 UVP is the successor to the Let-410, which first took off in 1969. It has a total service life of 20,000 hours or 20,000 landings over the course of 20 years. \rThe aircraft is still frequently used in eastern Europe for the training of paratroopers, explaining its suitability for Hinton Skydiving. \rThe aircraft is the property of Euroservices, a Ukrainian company, and flew east to spend Christmas at home. \rBrown has recently been in the Ukraine securing the Let-410's return for another season at Hinton in the Hedges: It will be back in March.