How E-day became an intimidate Walkaround

Jan Zdiarský

The window was still closing on a final

When it got to the point this summer to

intensify preparations for E-day, the head- decision, and the prognosis of the evolutiscratching got to a more feverish level on of the epidemic was not improving and

than usual. The dilemma became the de- decision making of the powers that be were

cision concerning whether or not we would beginning to smack of the upcoming elecbe able to bring the event to a success- tions. Our headscratching increased some

ful conclusion given the restrictions that more. As zero hour approached, we were

we had already anticipated by the end of more pragmatic about the whole thing and

September would be in place. The time filtered out the wishful thinking and finally the Ministry of Defense and the associated

window to do so was closing fast and the called the whole thing off. However, we de- entities that had to react to our requests

alternative was to throw in the towel. Prior cided to try and hold on to the date and put were really beginning to like us… A Hurrito this, there were already some organiza- on something similar to last year. This invol- cane painted in a scheme flown by Czechotional steps taken, such as deals with the ved the airfield at Plzen-Line and the tried slovak ace Karel Kuttlewascher, some eye

Ministry of Defense to allow the flypast of and tested team at Classic Trainers. Right candy from the airfield at Tocna and this

an Mi-24 of the Army of the Czech Republic from the get-go, they knew that this would year’s special surprise, were ensured by

at the event. We expected a good deal of need to be something different from last the Eduard boss himself. For this event, the

year’s Spitfire Day. We wanted something

co-operation from the ministry.

Hurricane was flown by our friends from

Because the Lord moves in mysterious similar but not to become another air show. Classic Trainers. The Treners were in touch

ways, and various natural and political Not that what we wanted couldn’t fly, but with Richard Plos, who developed contacts

forces change the rules of the game, the should be accessible to those who came as over the course of the development of the

first change needed to be made was that well. The people should be able to take in kit. Naturally, other names were added to

of the timing of the event. This took the the beauty of the aircraft on the ground. the list of those involved, such as Marek

show from the end of September to the So…a sort of ‘walkaround’, we told oursel- Mincbergr, Michal Orlita, Milan Mikulecky,

beginning of October. And then someone ves. It also wouldn’t be this colossal affair… and others.

threw a monkey wrench into the whole but rather a more ‘intimate’ one. And with

With respect to the Mi-24, not only did

thing, or, more accurately, a horse wrench. that, the event and it’s concept were out. we get the go-ahead for a flypast, but also

The focal point of the event would have

This was an exhibition called ‘Horse 2021’,

clearance for the thing to land, and so

and apparently horses have little fear of to be aircraft connected with kits that a fourth letter was generated for the Micovid-19, and the organizers of that event were to be new items released at E-day. nister of Defense, where we modified our

were able to secure their use of the venue These were the 48th scale Mi-24, the 72nd application to include a static display as

before we could, trouncing our tentative scale Hurricane and the sweetheart of our well as a dynamic one.

dates set. So we went to October 2nd, and own design and new moulds, the 1:48th

When Eduard personnel began to arricontinued with the headscratching. Also, scale Z-226 Trener. The latter was to be ve at Line on Friday, October 1st, 2021,

the Minister received our notification of a pre-release item at Plzen.

the Classic Trainer people were hard at it.

As you may well imagine, we sent off

the date change, and through certain chaThe Hurricane was present, the engine warnnels, we were able to learn that the new yet another letter to the Minister with med up, and asking if there was anything

date actually suited the Army better…we a request for another change. This time, I could do, me and my two sons were given

a change from Lyse to Plzen. I figure that

figured that was a good thing…

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eduard

INFO Eduard - November 2021