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Czechoslovak's airplanes in 1920's were remainders of Austrian-Hungarian air-force.
It was bi-planes (Albatroses, Fokkers, a lot of Brandenburgs) and then in year 1919 we have received french SPADs.
This army technology was outdated for France, but helped a lot to our new Czechoslovak army.
So, it was political reason and we were using French planes until year 1923 - 1924,
when they become outdated and Czechoslovak factories started to replace them with new types, more or less successfully.
When I decided to build this replica, I wanted to make it realistic, not re-sized, with original shapes and with original materials.
The engine is a bit different, as I was unable to find the original one.
Of course, there are some historic plane builders, that use modern technology and materials,
change the shapes a bit to make it fly better and re-size it to fit one of categories.
So, I have decided to NOT go this way and rather build 1 plane during 10 years
While they build 10 planes during 10 years.
It means much more work for me, but my plane is at 95% - it can never be 100% - the same as original one.
The rest 5% is changed according to current law, current instruments, added radio, seat belts...
For example this airplane was originally flying without seat belts!
They were not thinking too much about it, they either hold onto or they fell out...
It was my hobby, but during the time, as I am building a new historic airplane, it became my job.
Sometimes it is too much work and I am happy to go somewhere else than to the airport...
I have started to work on this particular airplane, AVIA BH1 EXP, in year 1995, by visiting archives.
And since year 1997 I started to build it physically.
Its maiden flight has happen in 2001.
The total time spent, including study, preparation, build and test flights was about 8000 hours.
Avia BH1 Exp, called Exprevít, was experimental airplane, because the factory brought up completely new concept
of low-wing with struts, which was very modern, but not tested concept.
The airplane was very successful and won the "President's prize" race.
The small factory was primarily focusing on wings, and you can find the fuselage a bit ugly, as they needed to save time here.
Even if it does not look so, it has flown to Warsaw at own power and the longest trip was to Brussels (800 km) in year 2007.
It was such a small big adventure, but we returned alive and well!