Country of origin:

Czechoslovakia

Description:

Four-five seat twin-engine cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

Two 78 kw (105 hp) Walter 4-III four-cylinder supercharged fuel-injected in-line air-cooled engines

Specifications:

History:

The Super Aero 45 and Aero 145 were progressive developments of the Aero 45 light twin which flew for the first time in prototype form on 21 July 1947 in Czechoslovakia. It was the country’s first post-war aviation product and was very successful. When production of the series terminated in 1961, 590 examples had been delivered. All but 80 were exported.

Construction was of duralumin, including the skin of everything except the control surfaces. The Aero 45 and Super Aero 45 were both powered by Walter Minor 4-III engines of 78 kw (105 hp). All three models were externally similar. The Aero 145, the last model built, had the more powerful Walter M-332 104 kw (140 hp) supercharged engines.

The Super Aero proved quite popular in Europe, particularly in Hungary, where it was known as Kocsag (Egret), and 130 were exported to the Soviet Union, and examples were delivered to East Germany. The type was also licence-built by LET.

The Model 45, or the initial variant, was a reference to the fact that it was a 4-5-seat aircraft. The fuselage was tear-drop shaped, and was extensively glazed, providing good visibility. It had a conventional tail and a retractable tailwheel type undercarriage. A number were supplied to the Czech Air Force for twin-engine training and as an aerial ambulance.

The wing had two spars, the leading-edge between the fuselage and the engine nacelles being taken up by slots which opened simultaneously when the undercarriage was lowered. The fuselage consisted of three sections, the front was integral with the wing centre section, including the two engines and the undercarriage, and contained the cabin. The main attractions of the type when released on the market were low-price and exceptional economy, a fuel consumption of 45 litres (10 Imp gals) per hour being quoted at a cruising speed of 225 km/h (140 mph). It was described as “generally comfortable, a little noisy, well equipped and pleasant to fly”.

On 29 April 1982 an Aero 145 (OK-NHE) flown by V Touzimska set a number of closed circuit records for aircraft in the C-1c class, including a closed circuit without landing of 2,209.90 km (1,373.2 miles), a 100 km (62.1 miles) circuit at a speed of 264.10 km/h (164.1 mph), and a 500 km (310.68 miles) circuit record at 262.03 km/h (162.8 mph).

Australian distributor of the type was Dulmison Aircraft of North Sydney, NSW and the aircraft imported were serviced on arrival by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services. The first of the type imported was an Aero 45 Series II, VH-PXA (c/n 02-003), registered in September 1956 to Fawcett Aviation Pty Ltd of Bankstown, NSW. It later saw service with W E James Aircraft Pty Ltd of Bankstown on charter work but was damaged in an accident on 19 May 1957. It was re-registered in April 1961 and ownership changed to Commodore Aviation at Port Lincoln, SA the registration being changed to VH-WWH. It remained in service with this company until retired in 1976. It was later placed in the hands of a technical college for restoration for static display.

An Aero 145, VH-WWC (c/n 20-002), was initially registered to Dulmison Aircraft in 1960.  It spent nearly all its life with Commodore Aviation at Port Lincoln, being used for tuna spotting and the re-supply of lighthouses on nearby islands.  It was sold to R K Fuller of Port Lincoln in June 1976.  It was retired in August 1976.  A group of enthusiasts obtained the aircraft in 1985 and commenced restoration.  It had the registration VH-ZCL allotted to John Ellis, that registration being taken up on 23 March 2001, the registered owner being David Harris of Balhannah, SA.  The restoration used parts from the dismantled VH-DUB. It was again retired at Murray Bridge, SA in 2018 and was donated to the South Australian Aviation Museum in Adelaide, SA where it is being restored for display.

Two were delivered by air via the United Kingdom from Czechoslovakia. VH-DUA (c/n 19/012), an Aero 145, was used as a demonstrator but shortly after arrival crashed and was destroyed at Moorabbin, VIC on 12 November 1960.  VH-DUB (c/n 19/015), another Aero 145, was operated by a number of owners, including Diesel Motors of Bentley, WA, Oceanic Motors of Rockdale, and Brighton Le Sands, Madison Avenue International of Oatley, and K M Dennes of Penshurst, all of New South Wales.  It was withdrawn from service in January 1976 but is still extant, parts being used in the rebuild of VH-WWC.

VH-DUH (c/n 20-001), also an Aero 145, was registered to Dulmison Aircraft in December 1960.  It also had a number of owners including Australian Blue Metal, National Contractors of Bentley, WA, and Samov Pty Ltd.  Most of its life was spent on operations with Commodore Aviation of Port Lincoln.  It was damaged in an accident at Green Cape, NSW on 21 December 1966, was repaired, and returned to the register in 1972.  In recent years it has been restored and returned to airworthiness. In April 2007 it was flown to Camden, NSW, but suffered some damage in a taxiing accident. After rebuild at Camden and Tyabb, VIC it has been based at Mittagong, NSW.