Country of origin:

Czechoslovakia

Description:

Four-seat cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

One 104 kw (140 hp) Walter M-332 four-cylinder in-line inverted air-cooled supercharged engine

Specifications:

History:

Designed essentially as a touring monoplane for the eastern-bloc countries, but also available for sale to western nations, the CZL LD-40 Meta Sokol was built by the Avia factory of the Czechoslovakian National Aircraft Industry at Chocen. The Meta Sokol was a development of the MRAZ S-1 Sokol, three-seat cabin monoplane, an example of which appeared on the Australian register in 1950 as VH-AXY, later becoming VH-BXY in 1961. This aircraft is believed to be still extant and stored in South Australia but is not airworthy.

The prototype LD-40 Meta Sokol flew for the first time in 1954 with a 78 kw (105 hp) Walter Minor 4-III engine but, after some test flying, it was re-engined with the more powerful and supercharged Walter M-332-SC engine to complete the certification program. However, the Walter Minor engine was available as an alternative to the M-332 if the customer so chose. Whereas the Sokol was basically of wooden construction, the LD-40 was an all-metal development featuring an unconventional reversed tricycle undercarriage, with the two mainwheels forward and the usual nosewheel in the centre to the rear mounted under the cabin, keeping the fuselage almost horizontal on the ground.

The initial production model seated three but only a small number were built when production switched to the developed four-seater. Construction of the fuselage was an all-metal monocoque, the wings being low-wing cantilever monoplane type of all-metal structure, the centre-section integral with the fuselage. The outer wing panels had two spars attached to the centre-section via three hinges, the interchangeable metal ailerons being fabric covered. Accommodation was provided for four in an enclosed cabin, with two separate front seats and a bench-type rear seat. The sliding canopy slid to the rear, and the luggage compartment was accessible from the cabin.

A total of nine examples was imported to Australia by Dulmison Aircraft of Sydney, NSW, this company being established in 1959 to import aircraft from Czechoslovakia. Aircraft registered in Australia have included VH-DUE (c/n 150510), which arrived in Australia in November 1960 and was placed in storage. It was first registered on 26 March 1964 to Gold Coast Air Services Ltd of Surfers Paradise, QLD. It had a number of owners over the years, mainly in southern Queensland until damaged in a ground loop on 11 June 1970. It was stored for a few years at Rockhampton, QLD until August 1976 when ownership was changed and it moved to Melbourne, VIC. It was damaged in an accident on 24 December 1983. It has survived at Tyabb, VIC.

VH-DEH (c/n 150705) was registered to Coastal Aircraft of Sydney on 29 May 1963 and was based at Bankstown, NSW. It was damaged in an accident at Wallacia, NSW on 18 January 1964. On 12 September 1965 it crashed on take-off at Wallacia and was destroyed.

VH-DUP (c/n 150702) was registered to Dulmison Aircraft on 1 May 1961 and was used as a demonstrator, along with other imports by the company, including an Aero 145, a Morava L-200 and a Zlin Trener Master. Ownership was changed to Lombard (Australia) Finance Ltd of Sydney; and on 7 March 1963 the registration was changed to VH-EMR for Gold Coast Air Services Ltd of Surfers Paradise. In September 1963 it became VH-EMB to an owner at Inverell, NSW. It had further owners, mainly in Victoria, and was withdrawn from service in November 1980, being placed in storage.

VH-DUX (c/n 150507) was first registered to Kingsford Smith Flying Service Pty Ltd of Bankstown on 6 April 1960. It subsequently had a number of owners in Queensland and Victoria before it crashed on take-off at Tooradin, VIC.

VH-DUY (c/n 150601) was registered to Dulmison Aircraft Pty Ltd on 14 March 1961. It was registered to a Mr R J McCosh of Warnambool, VIC in July 1962 and was flown in the R M Ansett Air Race in March 1964 from Brisbane, QLD to Adelaide, SA. It was damaged in a forced landing at Colac, VIC on 3 December 1971. After some years of storage it was restored and placed on the register to a new owner, Charlie Zulu Lima Aviation of Adelaide in 2008.

VH-ENG (c/n 150614) was first registered to Kitchener and Company of Sydney on 23 November 1960. It also took part in the R M Ansett Air Race from Brisbane to Adelaide in 1964. Ownership was changed to Mr E N Graham of Canberra, ACT in December 1965 and it was later based at Canberra.

VH-RCW (c/n 150603) was first registered to Dulmison Aircraft Pty Ltd on 1 December 1960. It was subsequently with C B Tilbrook of Parafield, SA and RC and V Wagner of Lake Wangary, SA. It had a few more owners before being withdrawn from use in August 1977. It was restored to a new owner at Paradise Waters on the Gold Coast, QLD in March 1985.

VH-DUC (c/n 150506) was first registered to Dulmison Aircraft on 4 August 1960. It had further owners including Fleet Owners Pty Ltd and Diesel Motors Pty Ltd of Perth, WA and The Sokol Group of Derrinallum, VIC. It has had further owners in Victoria and has survived, regularly attending fly-ins and aviation events.

VH-DUT (c/n 150602) was first registered to Lombard (Australia) Finance Ltd on 23 November 1962. Further owners have included Seers and Swain Manufacturers of Orange, NSW and the Dubbo Aero Club. It later moved to a number of owners in Queensland. On 5 October 1969 it made a forced landing 56 km (35 miles) southwest of Mundubbera, QLD after an engine failure. It was struck off the register in October 1969 but later restored by a new owner at Tailem Bend, SA. Ownership was transferred to Charlie Zulu Lima Aviation of Adelaide in March 1998 and it has survived.