Mráz Sokol

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

The Mráz M.1 Sokol (Czech: "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.

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.

Variants

• M-1A - original two-seat version with Walter Minor engine
• M-1B - similar to M-1A but with ZLAS Toma engine (1 built)
• 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)

Survivors

An M-1C, registration G-AIXN is maintained in flyable condition in the UK. Other airworthy examples exist (2010) in the Czech Republic and in Germany.

M1C Sokol G-AIXN at Leeds (Yeadon) in 1954 is still airworthy in 2009

Specifications (M-1C)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Length: 7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 10.00 m (32 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 13.8 m² (148 ft²)
• Empty weight: 425 kg (935 lb)
• Gross weight: 780 kg (1,720 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Walter Minor 4-III, 78 kW (105 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 230 km/h (140 mph)
• Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,800 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.8 m/s (550 ft/min)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 571. 
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. 
• Němeček, Václav (1968). Československá letadla. Prague: Naše Vojsko.