M1D Sokol "D-ESOK"

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 (Choceň) 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.

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Around 284 aircraft were built but the wooden-glued airframes were condemend in the early 1960s and withdrawn from use, under 10 were still in existence, but only a few are flyable.

 

 

• 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: 500,8 kg (1,104lb)
• Gross weight: 800kg (1,763 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Walter Minor 4-III air-cooled four-cylinder inverted inline engine, 78 kW (105 hp)

• Maximum speed: 240 km/h ( 130 kts)
• Cruising speed: 212 km/h (114 kts)
• Range: 1,000 km (540 nm)
• Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,748 ft)
• Rate of climb: 3.0 m/s (590 ft/min)

 

The Aircraft is based in LKLN ( Plzen - Czech Rep.) and is available for static/air displays as well as Film/Photo work.