Mráz Sokol

M-1 Sokol
M-1C in the Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely
Role Utility aircraft
National origin Czechoslovakia
Manufacturer Beneš-Mráz, Choceň
Designer Zdeněk Rublič
First flight 9 March 1946
Number built 287


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.

Design and development

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.

The prototype, then designated the M.1/1 and registered as OK-ZHA, first flew on 9 March 1946, following test flights the prototype was designated the M.1A as the two-seat-version. A re-engined two-seater was built designated the M.1B with a ZLAS Toma 4 engine, it first flew on 19 May 1946 but only one was built. The design was then modified as the M.1C with a third-seat in the rear and first flying on 16 February 1947. The M.1C became the main production variant and 183 aircraft were built.

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.

Around 284 aircraft were built but the wooden-glued airframes were condemend in the early 1960s and withdrawn from use, under 20 were still in existence in the 2010s but only a few are flyable.

Variants

Operators

 Czechoslovakia
 Egypt

Survivors

An M-1C, registration G-AIXN is maintained in flyable condition in the UK. 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 2016

Specifications (M-1D)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52[1]

General characteristics

Performance


References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mraz Sokol M-1.
  1. ↑ Bridgman 1951, pp. 110c–111c.
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