ČKD-Praga

ČKD-Praga (Českomoravská-Kolben-Daněk Prague) was a Czechoslovakian aircraft manufacturer. The company was founded in 1915 as an engine manufacturing company, under the designation Praga. The company started designing aircraft in 1930–31 when the designers Pavel Beneš and Miroslav Hajn came to ČKD-Praga from Avia. Their first aircraft was the Praga E-39 from 1931. It was a military trainer, with a production run of 139 aircraft. ČKD-Praga developed several aircraft over the following years, but none exceeded prototype stage.

Jaroslav Šlechta became chief designer in 1934 and designed the Praga E-114 Air Baby aircraft, which became a commercial success. The aircraft was sold to France, Iran, Romania and to Britain. Most of the British aircraft were manufactured locally on a license, for instance the Hillson-Praga Baby. 126 aircraft were ordered until 1946.

ČKD-Praga developed 17 aircraft designs, of whome 7 entered series production.

References

• Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 244. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 165.