Mráz M-1C Sokol

This unique aircraft of serial number 142 was purchased by the Točná Aviation Museum in 2013 from Mr. Mariaš, who discovered it, had it generated by the Prague company BMZ servis in 2000 and subsequently flew with it.

 

The first Czechoslovak post-war Sokol M1C aircraft is a product of the Automobile Works company in Chocen (formerly Ing. J. Mráz).

 

The production of this three-seater sports, training and touring aircraft was started in 1946. The designer Zdeněk Rublič worked on the plans of the aircraft in secret during the war.

 

287 pieces were produced, half of which were exported. Production was terminated by a decision of the already centrally managed economy in 1950. Between 1947 and 1949, several promotional flights took place. For example, the longest: From Prague to Cape Town in South Africa. Of the two machines, only one returned when the other crashed in Nairobi, where it failed for power lines. The crew escaped with only minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed and much of Africa found itself without power. The stage flight lasted two months and Sokol flew 33,000 km without a single defect. Another promotional flight was made in 1949 by Swiss pilots from Zurich to Melbourne, Australia.