Ceremonial christening of the replica of Ing. Jan Kašpar’s aircraft

On Friday, April 25, a ceremonial christening of a replica of Ing. Jan Kašpar’s aircraft took place at the Kunětice airfield, attended by representatives of the Pardubice Region and the Statutory City of Pardubice. The aircraft is owned and operated by the Aviatická Pouť Association. It is exhibited and operated as part of the Pardubice Aviation Exhibition at the Kunětice airfield. The event took place almost exactly 115 years after Ing. Jan Kašpar’s first flight. On Saturday, April 16, 1910, late in the morning, he made his first controlled flight—approximately two kilometers long—on a military training ground where today’s Dukla housing estate in Pardubice is located. This was the first controlled motorized flight by a Czech aviator in Bohemia and marked a significant moment in the birth of Czech aviation.

“It was precisely the importance of Ing. Jan Kašpar for Pardubice and Czech aviation history that led the organizers of the Aviatická Pouť, over many years, to the effort of building a replica of this important Czech aviation pioneer’s aircraft,” said Ing. Josef Piňos, chairman of the Aviatická Pouť Association, on the occasion of the christening. He continued: “It turned out to be a very demanding project in every respect, so when we learned more than a year ago that a replica was available for purchase from renowned builder Václav Vondrášek of Český Brod, we didn’t hesitate and bought it. On that occasion, he also offered us a replica of the Blériot XI, the type of aircraft with which Ing. Jan Kašpar made his first flights. Having replicas of both machines of this Czech aviation pioneer was a challenge. Today, you can see both aircraft in the Pardubice Aviation Exhibition located at the Kunětice airfield.”

“Václav Vondrášek completed both aircraft in 2010, then moved on to other projects, placing the Blériots in storage,” added pilot Jan “Kašpar” Rudzinskyj. “Our priority was the J.K. type aircraft—the one Ing. Jan Kašpar designed and built himself. It was also the type he used on May 13, 1911, for his historic flight from Pardubice to Prague. Our replica is in this very configuration. The skilled hands of Pavel Majzner from Jehnědí prepared it for operation. That’s where we conducted the first flights and flight tests with the replica in autumn 2024. This spring, we continued testing in Kunětice and prepared the aircraft for ceremonial commissioning. The public will be able to see the Kašpar replica at this year’s Aviatická Pouť, which will take place at Pardubice Airport on June 7 and 8,” concluded Jan “Kašpar” Rudzinskyj.

PROGRAM OF THE 33rd AVIATICKÁ POUŤ, June 7–8, 2025 – Pardubice

The flying program of the 33rd Aviatická Pouť will be packed with legendary aircraft.

The promised Messerschmitt Me 262 will arrive from Manching, Germany, from the Messerschmitt Stiftung collection.

From Switzerland, we will welcome the C-47 Skytrain, better known here as the legendary Dakota, in D-Day invasion markings. Paratrooper jumps from this historic aircraft are also planned.

The Dakota will be accompanied by a group of three twin-engine Beech 18 Twin Beech aircraft.

On static display, the Panavia Tornado from Germany will be showcased, featuring variable-sweep wings and a special livery celebrating the 50th anniversary of the type’s first flight.

No Aviatická Pouť would be complete without aerial battle reenactments. This year will feature several: a popular World War I scenario, a World War II scene, and a helicopter action scene inspired by the iconic MAS*H TV series.

The early days of aviation will be represented by a replica of the Bleriot JK, the aircraft of the first Czech aviator, Ing. Jan Kašpar.

The Czech Army has promised a flyover by Gripens and a CASA 295 transport aircraft carrying military paratroopers. Also featured will be the W-3A Sokol rescue helicopter and a dynamic solo display by the supersonic JAS 39 Gripen.

The Czech Air Force Training Centre and LOM Praha will demonstrate a pair of L-39C jet trainers along with the new L-39NG Skyfox. Added to this will be the Zlín Z-142 trainer piloted by famous aerobatic pilot and military flight instructor Martin Šonka. Also on display will be the Enstrom 480 training helicopter and vintage aircraft including the C-11 and Z-381 BASA.

A thrilling aerobatic show will be performed by Petr Kopfstein in his EDGE 540V3, a race aircraft from the Red Bull Air Race series.

From Austria’s Hangar 7, a stunning lineup of historic aircraft known as The Flying Bulls will arrive, including the B-25 Mitchell, P-38 Lightning, F4U Corsair, P-51D Mustang, and T-28 Trojan.

The internationally acclaimed Czech aerobatic team, The Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team, will again demonstrate their mastery of formation and mirror aerobatics, featuring many unique elements unmatched by any other team in the world.

A new addition to the program will be the presentation of a Phenom business jet by Atmospherica.

Of course, we won’t be missing a group of legendary biplanes: 2x Bücker Jungmann, 2x Bücker Jungmeister, and 2x Boeing Stearman.

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