On Friday, 25th April 2025, Sdružení Aviatické pouti (the Aviation Fair Association) officially launched its airworthy replica of Jan Kašpar´s Blériot type aircraft. The solemn ceremony took place at Kunětice airfield, with participation of invited official representatives of the Pardubice Region and Statutory City of Pardubice, as well as general public.
The aforementioned event took place almost exactly on the 115th anniversary of Jan Kašpar´s first take-off. On 16th April 1910, before noon, the Czech aviation pioneer performed his first controlled flight at a distance of about two kilometres, taking-off from military training ground located in the area of today´s Dukla district in Pardubice.
Engineer Jan Kašpar was the first Czech aviator to perform the controlled flight of powered, heavier-than-air aircraft within the Bohemia land. Therefore, and deservedly, that event is now commonly recognised in the Czech Republic as the birth of country´s aviation.
´It is exactly the significance of Jan Kašpar´s flight for Pardubice and for the history of Czech aviation that for many years inspired the organizers of the Aviation Fair air show to build an airworthy replica of aircraft (belonging to) this important pioneer of the Czech aviation´, said engr. Josef Piňos, chairman of the Aviation Fair Association at the launching event.
´(However,) implementation of this project turned out to be quite challenging, in all aspects. Therefore, when, more than a year ago, we´ve learned that it would be possible to purchase a replica from the well-known aircraft maker Václav Vondrášek from Český Brod, we did not hesitate and acquired the aircraft´, he added. ´At the same time, Vondrášek offered us a replica of Blériot XI aircraft, the type with which Jan Kašpar made his first flights. Although to acquire both aeroplanes of the Czech aviation pioneer was a challenge, today you can see them both being showcased at the Exhibition of Pardubice aviation, located at the Kuňetice airfield´.
´Václav Vondrášek completed both aeroplanes back in 2010, and then started working on other projects, putting both Blériots into storage´, explained Jan ´Kašpar´ Rudzinskyj, pilot of the Blériot. ´Our priority was the JK type aircraft, that is the type which engr. Jan Kašpar designed and built´.
It was the aeroplane in which Jan Kašpar performed his historic flight from Pardubice to Prague, on 13th May 1911. And the replica that was launched at the end of April 2025 in Kuňetice, is based on that type of aircraft.
´Preparation of the aircraft for certification was executed by skilful hands of Pavel Majzner from Jehnědí, where, in autumn of 2024, we´ve also performed the first take-offs and flight tests with the replica. in the fall of 2024´, added Rudzinskyj. ´In spring of 2025, we continued with tests in Kunětice and then prepared the aeroplane for the ceremonial launching´.
Aviation enthusiasts and general public will be able to see the replica of Kašpar´s aeroplane during the upcoming edition of the Aviation Fair air show, which will take place at Pardubice airfield on 7th and 8th June.
More information about the event and its display programme can be found in our article – Coming soon – the 33rd edition of Aviation Fair.
Jan Kašpar (20th May 1883 – 2nd March 1927), was born in Pardubice and became a Czech pioneer aviator, constructor and engineer. He graduated the Czech Technical University in Prague and then continued his studies in Germany.
Kašpar participated in the construction of the very first Czech aircraft engine and later tried to build a monoplane of Antoinette system. Then he followed Louis Blériot designs and after an unsuccessful attempt to build his own aeroplane, he bought Blériot XI.
In 1910, Kašpar became the first person of Czech nationality to fly an aeroplane, although not the first one to fly over the Czech territory, as there were French and German aviators who preceded him.
One year later, Jan Kašpar built his own aeroplane he called ´JK aeroplane of Blériot system´ and performed the first flights from Pardubice. After the World War I, Kašpar fell into poverty and later suffered from mental illness, finally committing suicide in 1927.
All photos courtesy of Aviation Fair Association © Sdružení Aviatické pouti
