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.[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 105 hp (78 kW) 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built but the deterioration of the Urea-based glue used caused many examples to be condemned in the early 1960s and withdrawn from use.[2] Nineteen Sokols were recorded as still being registered in 2013 with only a few still flyable.[3]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
    G-AIXN landing at its home base of Turweston Aerodrome in the United Kingdom in 2017
    M-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

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

Specifications (M-1D)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52 [6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 2 passengers
  • Length: 7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.0 m (32 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) (tail up)
  • Wing area: 13.8 m2 (149 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 425 kg (937 lb)
  • Gross weight: 780 kg (1,720 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Walter Minor 4-III air-cooled four-cylinder inverted inline engine, 78 kW (105 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 212 km/h (132 mph, 114 kn)
  • Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,700 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 3.0 m/s (590 ft/min)

See also

Related development

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mraz Sokol M-1.
  1. 1 2 Air-Britain Archive September 2013, pp. 101, 103
  2. 1 2 Air-Britain Archive September 2013, p. 104
  3. ↑ Air-Britain Archive September 2013, p. 105
  4. ↑ Air-Britain Archive September 2013, p. 103
  5. ↑ "The last of the warm ones!". AviatorUK. 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2018-02-03.
  6. ↑ Bridgman 1951, pp. 110c–111c.
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
  • "Head-On View: No. 48: The Mraz M.1 Sokol". Air-Britain Archive. September 2013. p. 106. ISSN 0262-4923.
  • Němeček, Václav (1968). Československá letadla. Prague: Naše Vojsko.
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 571.
  • Rare Sokol M1C at Prague Točná Airport
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