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Monthly magazine about history and scale plastic modeling.

INTERVIEW WITH PETR JEZEK

Petr Jezek, 46, is an aircraft restorer. Aircraft are his lifelong passion and hobby. Between 2016 and the end of 2023, he worked for Ceska Aviaticka located at Kbely in Prague, where he was involved in the restoration of historic aircraft. Over the last year, and along with his colleague Zdenek Dvorak, he worked on the museum’s American Northrop F-5E Tiger II. He left the company at the end of 2023 and has been working for the Military Historical Institute of the Kbely museum. Besides aircraft, he also has a soft spot for cars manufactured by Saab.

HISTORY
INTERVIEW WITH
PETR JEZEK
Petr Jezek, 46, is an aircraft
restorer. Aircraft are his lifelong
passion and hobby. Between 2016
and the end of 2023, he worked for
Ceska Aviaticka located at Kbely
in Prague, where he was involved
in the restoration of historic
aircraft. Over the last year, and
along with his colleague Zdenek
Dvorak, he worked on the museum’s
American Northrop F-5E Tiger II.
He left the company at the end of
2023 and has been working for the
Military Historical Institute of the
Kbely museum. Besides aircraft,
he also has a soft spot for cars
manufactured by Saab.
How did you come to restore aircraft?
I got into aircraft restoration in 1996, as a soldier
in the basic service. I was assigned to the aviation
museum in Kbely with Mr. Jan Sýkora. At that
time, the Šmolík Š-2 aircraft was being restored.
My very first job on this aircraft was to repair the
observer's machine gun swivel mount.
I had no idea that basic military service could
provide work at the museum in Kbely. I would
like that too! Did you spend a year there and then
went to civilian life? Or did you stay there after
your service obligations were met?
I served in the aircraft repair squadron at the
base in Kbely. I had my duties there, serving as
a supervisor and worked on aviation technology.
When I wasn't needed, I spent my free time in the
workshop at the aviation museum. During my time
at the museum, I met and became friends with
a number of people who shared the same affinity
Petr Jezek (right) and Zdenek Dvorak with the restored Northrop F-5E Tiger II in front of Ceska Aviaticka hangar at Prague Kbely. Photo: Petr Jezek
by Vladimír Šulc
INFO Eduard12
March 2024
Info EDUARD