Researchers from the Rzeszów University of Technology designed and built a new LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) class aircraft from scratch. The beneficiary of the project was the Krosno-based company PPHU EKOLOT.

Work on the new aircraft was carried out as part of an implementation project by Dr Andrzej Kubit, from the Department of Machine Technology and Production Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics at the Rzeszów University of Technology. As part of the R&D work, a specialised infrastructure was developed and manufactured, enabling strength testing of thin-walled composite structures. A series of tests on the properties of composite joints was carried out, with the selection of effective methods of joining individual components. Research was also conducted on modifying resins used as matrix for polymer-fibre composites. 

The result of the work is a retractable low-wing aircraft with a modern silhouette, which has been given the name KR040.