Czech Air Force
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The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Czech Republic Army. The Air Force along with the Ground Forces comprise the main combat power of the Czech Army.
History
In order to understand the history of the Czech Air Force, one must understand the fractured history of the nation of Czechoslovakia, and then the Czech Republic. The following named periods are roughly bounded by these dates, with each period having a distinct history and role for the Czech Air Force.
For a modern nation surrounded by potentially hostile neighbors, without access to the ocean, the Czechoslovak leadership looked to the air, determined to build a specialized and potent air force. So was born the motto, "Our sea is in the air."
Considering the geopolitical adversaries in the region, the Czechoslovak government between the wars did an admirable job of balancing a home-grown aviation industry with licensing engine and aircraft designs from allied nations. Weapons manufacture in Czechoslovakia had never been undersized. Indeed, Winston Churchill evaluated the Czech arms industry to be in front of that of Italy.
Several major aircraft companies and one large motor company (A. S. Walter) thrived in Czechoslovakia during the 1930's. One was the Aero Company (Aero Továrna Letadel), located in the Vysocany sector of Prague. Its metal and fabric-covered aircraft were competitive in the early 1930's; however, by 1938, only its MB.210 (a licensed Bloch design) was still serviceable. It may be more to the point to say that the Aero plant was an automobile factory that also produced some aircraft.
The Avia Company (Avia Akciová Spolnečnost Pro Průmysl Letecký Škoda), a branch of the enormous Škoda Works (Škodovy Závody) munitions organization, was different. Founded in 1919 in an old sugar factory in the eastern Prague suburbs of Letnany and Cakovice, Avia made entire airplanes, including motors, which were usually licensed Hispano-Suiza designs. The standard Czechoslovak pursuit plane of the late 1930's, the B-534 was proudly crafted by Avia, with total production reaching 514 units.
The state-controlled Letov (Vojenská Továrna Na Letadla Letov) was also situated in Letnany. It employed about 1,200 workers in the late 1930's, and it crafted the S-328 biplane, of which over 450 were produced. The entire airframe was welded together, not bolted or riveted. The Letov factory was the only Czech plant that manufactured metal propellers.
Bases
- Čáslav
- Náměšť nad Oslavou
- Pardubice
- Praha-Kbely
- Přerov
Units
The list is incomplete.
Air Forces Headquarters
Command and control of all Air Force operations.Tactical Air Force
Charged with maintaining air superiority over the Czech Republic and providing reconnaissance and strike support to the ground troops.Air Defense
Operates ground-to-air missile batteries and radio-based detection and countermeasures.External links
List of aircraft
This is a list of the most well known CzAF fighter aircraft, helicopters, and transport planes in active duty.
- Aero L-159 trainer
- JAS-39 Gripen fighter
- MIL Mi-17 helicopter
- MIL Mi-24 helicopter
- An-26 transportplane
- Canadair Challenger CL-601 transportjet
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All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.
Bases
- Čáslav
- Náměšť nad Oslavou
- Pardubice
- Praha-Kbely
- Přerov
Units
The list is incomplete.
Bases
- Čáslav
- Náměšť nad Oslavou
- Pardubice
- Praha-Kbely
- Přerov
Units
The list is incomplete.
Air Forces Headquarters
Command and control of all Air Force operations.Tactical Air Force
Charged with maintaining air superiority over the Czech Republic and providing reconnaissance and strike support to the ground troops.Air Defense
Operates ground-to-air missile batteries and radio-based detection and countermeasures.External links
List of aircraft
This is a list of the most well known CzAF fighter aircraft, helicopters, and transport planes in active duty.All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.