Czech Business Aviation History Came Home
A 1937 Lockheed Electra 10A that is a relic in the history of business aviation is finally brought home. It started its flight on May 21. After a 7-day transatlantic mission, the crew of six brought the aircraft after a 9.700 kilometer flight to its final home, Točna airport on the outskirts of Prague on May 28. Since the twin-engine double tail airplane only has a 1,200 km or five-hour range, it had to make multiple stopovers in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the UK and Germany to the Czech Republic. The airplane will be proudly displayed in Točná Museum of Aviation.
The purchase of the plane, its restauration as well as transfer flight was funded by Ivo Lukačovič, a Czech internet entrepreneur. He bought the Electra six years ago to make it part of his private collection. His brother Nikola was one of the pilots on this historic flight. Although the flight went safely there were some challenges caused by rime ice as the plane is not equipped with anti-icing systems.
The flight planning was arranged by the Operations and Control Center of ABS Jets in Prague.
“We are proud that ABS could contribute to bring this true pioneer of Czech business aviation back to our country,“ says Vladimir Petak, CEO of ABS Jets. “This is part of our industry. Although the executive aviation activities have become more sophisticated and complex nowadays, the idea of effective transportation by point-to-point flying, without delays or losing valuable time has remained the same.”
The Czech Jan Antonin Bata bought the aircraft in 1937 while in Chicago. The aircraft was intended for Amelia Earhart, but under time constraints, Bata could not afford to wait for the delivery of a different new Electra. It became part of his flight around the world which final destination was Zlin, the home of the BATA Company headquarters. From then on the aircraft was used to fly Bata executives to the various factories throughout Europe. Bata was a businessman and industrialist who built a worldwide empire of 25 enterprises and plants to manufacture shoes and boots, 1,645 stores and employing 16,560 people. He was a person who understood that the fastest eat the slowest and not the largest the smallest. Therefore the use of a company aircraft was a valuable asset for a business.
Shortly before the German occupation of Czechoslovakia In 1939, Bata flew the plane out of the country and some of the crew became part of a ‘Czechoslovak Manned Squadron’ of the British Royal Air Force and the plane was used for training and transport purposes. Later the Electra flew missions in the service of the Canadian Royal Air Force. In the post war years, it had a number of private owners in the USA. The last owner, a physician in Texas reluctantly sold the Electra to its new Czech owner.
The aircraft was damaged by corrosion and it systems were worn-out. Over a 4-year period it was restored in Kansas by Wichita Air Services. The president of the company claims that after the restoration the aircraft is now in even better condition than when in was built in 1937. This Lockheed Electra 10A may be the only example of its model that is still airworthy. Because of it is airworthiness it may fly to special aviation events in Europe as a proud demonstration of Czech aviation history. It will also be part of the 120th anniversary celebrations of the BATA Company.
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