One More Time...
When I put together a Tail End Charlie article a few months back with the theme
centred around a unique case involving
an airworthy Hawker Hurricane operated
over the Czech Republic, one I had the incredible luck of meeting in the air, I had
no idea I would be returning to the matter
so soon. Little did I know that this gem,
forever connected with Czechoslovak
fighter pilots serving in the RAF, would
again come to mind as a Tail End Charlie
theme. Unfortunately, the circumstances
behind the thought’s revival are vastly different now. I won’t go into an analysis of
the tragedy that occured on August 14th,
2022 during an airshow in Cheb, Czech
Republic, nor will I add my name to the
list of people who don’t quite realize that
they have nothing to add on the matter but
will make their opinions abundantly clear
with those little guarantees of expertise
all over the internet forums. I just want
Jan Zdiarský
to take this opportunity to reminisce
about an aircraft that as Eduard, we
had the honor of getting up close
and personal with during our Intimate Walkaround in Plzen just a year
ago. I also want to reflect within the
pages of our newsletter on the memory of the pilot, Petr Pačes, who did
not survive in the wreck of the ‘Czech‘
Hurricane. As opposed to the other
two pilots of this aircraft, Radim Vojta and Jiri Horak, I did not know Mr.
Pačes personally. I do know, from
others who knew him, that he was
a great friend and an excellent pilot
who will be dearly missed. So please, pause and give a thought to those
several months when the Czech skies
were home to a Czech Hurricane, and
to the hopes and disappointment of
the people who had dreams and lives
connected to this airplane. Those of
On the Pilsen Walkaround 2021 an unusual
oportunity was offered to me and my boys – to
clean up the Hurricane from oil sprayed over
the fuselage and wings underside during the
recent flight. How often you can have such an
opportunity?
Eduard Walkaround 2021 (photo M. Pruskavec)
110
INFO Eduard
September 2022