Mráz Bonzo

The Mráz Bonzo was a light sport aircraft produced in Czechoslovakia by the Beneš‑Mráz firm in the late 1930s. Designed as a two‑seat, low‑wing monoplane, the Bonzo aimed to provide affordable, reliable flying for flying clubs and private owners during a period when the country’s aviation industry was expanding rapidly. Its first flight took place in spring 1937, and the type received type‑approval from the Czechoslovak authorities in 1938. Powered by a modestly tuned Walter Minor four‑cylinder engine delivering around 105 hp, the Bonzo featured a wooden wing with fabric covering, a steel tube fuselage and a fixed, tailwheel undercarriage. The simple, robust construction gave the aircraft easy handling characteristics, a low stall speed and a maximum cruise of roughly 180 km/h, making it suitable for training and short‑range cross‑country trips. Only a few dozen were built before production was halted by the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent German occupation. Although the Bonzo never entered large‑scale service, it demonstrated Beneš‑Mráz’s ability to blend economical design with solid performance, influencing post‑war Czech light aircraft such as the Zlín series and cementing its place in Central European aviation heritage.

Beneš-Mráz

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Design & Classification