Tail End Charlie

New Czech Warbirds

Text: Jan Bobek

Photos: Petr Kolmann

I can't say that I’m a frequent visitor to air shows, or that I have a clear overview of which historical aircraft are in flyable condition in which countries. One of my greatest experiences in this area was a visit to the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia and a flight in a Stearman biplane over the sea coast. Naturally, as a passenger.

Compared to the number of airworthy historical aircraft in the USA or, for instance, in the United Kingdom, the number of WWII-era flyable aircraft in the Czech Republic is much more modest. We have about a dozen of them here at home, and they clearly show which part of history their operators and patrons are interested in. These are Allied aircraft. We even have two Mustangs. And in the first half of this year, two unique examples have joined this small air force.

At the beginning of April 2025, a Hawker Hurricane Mk.I aircraft arrived in Prague from the United Kingdom. It is the aircraft P3351, which took part in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. Among others, it was flown by American volunteers serving in No. 71 Squadron of the RAF. It was later received by the Soviet Air Force, in whose service this Hurricane was shot down, made a forced landing, and was rediscovered many decades later.

The team at Prague Točná Airport became interested in the aircraft at the time when it was being considered for conversion into a two-seater in the UK. Fortunately, this did not happen, and the unique Hurricane was carefully restored into the form of the legendary aircraft P3143 “NN-D” of the No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF from the time of the Battle of Britain. It was presented to the public at the end of April, where else but at Točná Airport. And I must say that I could not have chosen a better new identity for a Hurricane Mk.I of Czechoslovak unit. I highly recommend checking out the details of this project at the Prague Točná Airport website.

The second rarity to arrive in the Czech Republic this year is an Avro Anson Mk.I with serial number MH120. It was presented to the public at the air show in Pardubice on June 1. It bears the markings of aircraft K6183, belonging to No. 206 Squadron RAF, in honor of the crew of P/O L.H. Edwards, who was shot down at the beginning of September 1939 during combat with a German Heinkel He 115. This type holds great symbolic value for Czechoslovak aviation history, as many bomber crew members trained aboard Ansons. Details about this aircraft can be found on the RAF Station Czechoslovakia website, including a very engaging video tour of the aircraft’s interior. It has been reconstructed with the highest degree of authenticity while also meeting the requirements of modern air traffic communication.

A big thank you goes to everyone who made it possible for these two aircraft to find their way to the Czech Republic. I hope they will bring joy to aviation enthusiasts and the general public for many years to come, and I believe that the ranks of Czech warbirds will continue to grow in the future.