Kunovice Air Museum and Flying Club Open Day - 24.6.2017 (part 1)

[upnorth]

Hello all,

Yesterday saw me out at Kunovice to attend an event organized by the aviation museum and local flying club there. The event was called "Military Day", but that was a bit of a misnomer as there was quite a bit going on both military and civil. The event included exhibitions of WWII era uniforms and gear by reenactment clubs in the area, tactical demonstrations by the Czech army, firefighting and rescue demonstrations by the Kunovice airport fire brigade among others.

It was also a good opportunity for the three aircraft companies at Kunovice to show off some of their wares.

It was a decently sized and well attended event with something for everyone. As such, I've decided to break my post into two sections; one for aviation and the other for terrestrial.

Here's some of the aviation stuff:

This is an Evektor EV-55 Outback, a locally designed and built twin turboprop in development:



Another local product was the BRM Aero Bristell ultralight. I took a 30 minute sightseeing flight in this one:





A couple of vintage beauties arrived just after my flight landed. The biplane is an Aero C-104 and the other is a Zlín 381, Czech built versions of the Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann and Bu-181 Bestmann respectively:



This Beech Duke from the German register was available for close quarters perusal:


The museum used the event to roll out their newest exhibit, a restored Let/Zlín Z-37 TM, for public viewing. The Z-37 TM was used in the mid 1980s to test the suitability of the Z-37 T agricultural plane for military close support work. The experiment was a failure and the aircraft was returned to farm work and eventually taken onto the Hungarian register. In recent years, the Kunovice museum located and recovered the aircraft and brought it home for restoration and display:






A bit of history happened as this Slovak government Tupolev Tu-154 did a few low passes over the exhibition area. This wasone of the very last flights of this aircraft before it is retired in the coming week:




The Tupolev wasn't the only aircraft doing low passes over the exhibition site, this Let L-23 Super Blaník did a few of its own:

[Martin H]

I like the look of that EV-55. 

[JayBee]

Agree with Martin, however the one that really grabs my attention is the Let/Zlín Z-37 TM. That is one that would really look fantastic operational markings. 

[upnorth]

I like the look of that EV-55. 

I quite like it myself. It's broadly in the same category as the Let L-410 Turbolet.

Evektor and Let are on opposite sides of the Kunovice airport and Let has been developing a new version of the Turbolet over the past few years. Things like the EV-55 might be the way to go in the twin turboprop market depending on how much of the new Turbolet turns out to be old wine in a new bottle.

[upnorth]

Agree with Martin, however the one that really grabs my attention is the Let/Zlín Z-37 TM. That is one that would really look fantastic operational markings. 

I agree entirely. I hope the museum hangs some appropriate ordnance under the wings when they put her on display.

[Old Wombat]

This I like!




Is there a kit of the Evektor EV-55 Outback out there somewhere?

Because, although it looks good as is, it'd look great with Australian registration & wearing Royal Flying Doctor Service livery!

[NARSES2]

Certainly an attractive aircraft, especially in that scheme. Almost R.A.E. like ?

[reddfoxx]

BEAUTIFUL pictures!  And I agree, the EV-55 is sharp.  Hope it does well.

[upnorth]

BEAUTIFUL pictures!  And I agree, the EV-55 is sharp.  Hope it does well.

I hope it does well too, it's a bold move by Evektor and they deserve to be rewarded for daring to enter the twin turboprop market, something that is new territory for them.

Conversely, Let opted to warm over the L-410 Turbolet again rather than make a clean sheet design as they should have. The resultant L-410 NG looks like the 1960s vintage design that it is in spite of the many updates made to it.

[PR19_Kit]

Love the Super Blanik.   

Are Blaniks still all metal these days, or have they succumbed to the dreaded 'composite infection'?

[upnorth]

Love the Super Blanik.   

Are Blaniks still all metal these days, or have they succumbed to the dreaded 'composite infection'?

To my knowledge, all Blaníks have remained all metal.

[PR19_Kit]

Love the Super Blanik.   

Are Blaniks still all metal these days, or have they succumbed to the dreaded 'composite infection'?

To my knowledge, all Blaníks have remained all metal.

Love it, as they should be. 

It's that 'KERLANG! as you plunk it down on the runway that says 'Blanik!' to a glider pilot. 

[zenrat]

...it'd look great with Australian registration & wearing Royal Flying Doctor Service livery!

I have a long term plan to build some RFDS whiffs.  A Matchbox/Revell Norseman will be the first one.

[Knightflyer]

This I like!




Certainly an attractive aircraft, especially in that scheme. Almost R.A.E. like ?

I must admit my initial thought on first viewing the lower forward fuselage and engine before seeing the whole picture was British Airways!