Originally Posted by
brakedwell
Morning Baz.
I remember two Australian brothers flying two Aero 45's from the factory in Czechoslovakia back to Australia in 1960/1. I was on 152 sqn (RAF) based at Bahrain and was on standby one night when I was called out in a Pembroke to find an Aero 45 that was lost over Saudi Arabia northwest of Bahrain . The pilot was being helped by an Aramco DC4 which was getting low on fuel. We found the Aero 45 after about one hour searching (with landing lights) and escorted him to Bahrain, where he burst a main tyre on landing. While we were airborne the other Aero 45 had landed at Bahrain and we eventually all ended up in the RAF Officers mess having a few beers! I remember the brothers owned a garage in Sydney and were venturing into aircraft sales with the two Aero 45s as their first venture. Their manuals must be in Oz somewhere.
Wow! what a great story. I've got to know the Aero 45 quite intimately working on this project and the aeroplane has really grown on me. Very advanced for its time with many unusual and novel features, the history of its birth and development makes an excellent read. I suppose it has a lot to do with the traditional Eastern bloc approach but I do find it extremely frustrating that there is so little official information available. It has to be out there somewhere.