The Mráz M.1 Sokol (English: "Falcon") was a light aircraft built in Czechoslovakia in the years following the end of the Second World War. Designed in secret by Zdeněk Rublič at the Beneš-Mráz factory during the German occupation, the type was put into production in 1946.
The Sokol was a conventional, low-wing monoplane that took the pre-war Beneš-Mráz Bibi as its starting point. Two seats were provided side-by-side in an enclosed cabin, and the main units of the tailwheel undercarriage were retractable. Construction throughout was of wood.[1]
The prototype, designated the M.1/1 and registered as OK-ZHA, first flew on 9 March 1946. After testing, the prototype was redesignated the M.1A, as the type entered production. A re-engined two-seater was built designated the M.1B with a 105hp (78kW)ZLAS Toma 4 engine, flying for the first time on 19 May 1946 but no more M.1Bs were built. Instead, the M.1A was modified by adding a third seat in the rear, becoming the M.1C and first flying on 16 February 1947. The M.1C became the main production variant with 183 aircraft built.[1]
In 1948 the M.1C was further developed as the M.1D with an enlarged single-piece canopy and a revised rudder. The M.1D first flew on 4 October 1948 and 104 were built. One M.1D was fitted with locally produced floats and re-designated the M.1E, it first flew in September 1949. A minor variant was the Para-Sokol which was fitted with rearward sliding canopy to allow parachutists to leave the aircraft.[2]
Around 287 aircraft were built but the deterioration of the Urea-based glue used caused many examples to be condemned in the early 1960s and withdrawn from use.[2] Nineteen Sokols were recorded as still being registered in 2013 with only a few still flyable.[3]
Variants
M-1A – original two-seat version with Walter Minor engine
M-1B – similar to M-1A but with ZLAS Toma 4 engine (1 built)[4]
G-AIXN landing at its home base of Turweston Aerodrome in the United Kingdom in 2017M-1C – revised version, with longer fuselage and third seat, and swept leading edges on wing (183 built)
M-1D – similar to M-1C with new, single-piece canopy and larger rear windows (104 built)
M-1E – similar to M-1D but equipped with pontoons (at least 1 built)
Operators
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakian National Security Guard
Egypt
Egyptian Air Force
Surviving aircraft
An M-1C, registration G-AIXN is maintained in flyable condition in the UK and is based at Turweston Aerodrome[5] Other airworthy examples exist in the Czech Republic at Prague Točná Airport (2016) and in Germany (2012).
M1C Sokol G-AIXN at Leeds (Yeadon) in 1954, and is still airworthy in 2021
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Czechoslovakia
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