Letiště Kbely Other

Welcome to Kbelych. Stop for a moment, take a breath and feel the space around you. You are standing in a place that is not just an airport, but a real cradle of Czech aviation. Take a look around you at this vast area in the Prague part Vysočany. You may only see peace and open space, but beneath your feet lies a history full of courage, technical progress and dreams of conquering the sky. It is a place where military discipline meets the civilian desire for knowledge and where the first chapters of our experience with flying were written.

Let's go back more than a century together. Imagine a year of eight hundred and eighteen. Europe has just shaken in its foundations after the end of the First World War and a new republic was emerging on the map. It was a question of survival and prestige for the young state to have its own full-fledged airport. That's when this planet was selected in Kbelych. It was not a random decision, but a strategic step to ensure the development of transport and the defence of the newly created territory. Even in December of the same year, when the first group of airplanes went up in the freezing winter air, it became clear that this place would be crucial. Letiště Kbely was created as the first real air node in our territory and became a symbol of modernity and independence.

Now pay attention to the surrounding architecture. Although the airport has been changing over the decades, in its basic layout and buildings, we still feel a trace of a period vision. The author of the projects was an important architect Josef Gočár, one of the largest figures of Czech modernity. When you look around, observe the purity of the lines and the functionality of the spaces. Gočár brought the spirit of his time into his proposals, where beauty combined practical use with aesthetic balance. See the facade of the buildings and see how these buildings naturally engage in the airport landscape. The architecture was not merely a cover, but it was intended to emit the confidence of a young state that was not afraid to try new materials and shapes.

Letiště Kbely, however, is not only about concrete and steel, but mainly about people. This place was visited and influenced by individuals whose names we know from history books and art galleries. Imagine Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk walking through here, the first president of the Republic to see a way to connect to the world in aviation. Feel also the trail of Bedřich Trnka, master of puppet animation, who sought inspiration for his creation in the aviation environment. And then there's the name of František Fajtl, a legendary flyer whose courage in the clouds has become a pass for generations of followers. Each brought a different dimension to the Kbels, from political leadership to artistic perspective to pure military bravery.

Now, let's move on to one of the most fascinating things that may not come up at first sight. Letiště Kbely was not only home to aircraft, but it also became the center of communication. In the year nine hundred twenty-three there was an event that changed the way we perceived information. It was from the tents located directly at the airport that Radio Prague started broadcasting. Imagine the contrast where engine noise mixed up with the first burst of radio waves. At that time, this broadcast station became the second civil radio company throughout Europe, right after the famous British radio corporation. At that time, the buckets were not only connecting the earth with the sky, but also people with current news from all over the world.

The history of this place continued for decades. In the year nine hundred and thirty-three there was the first big military air day, which was an example of the discipline and technical level of our troops. It was a time when aviation caused great admiration and fascination in people. Later, in the year nine hundred and sixty-eight, the Kbela Air Museum was established, which today serves as a guardian of memory. The museum keeps here machines that no longer fly, but whose presence reminds us of the long journey we have traveled since the first December flights of eight hundred and eighteenth.

Today Letiště Kbely is still an active place. The 24th Air Force Air Force base is based here, providing important tasks for the state and military. It's a fascinating connection between the past and the present. If you look at the modern machines that operate here today, remember the first wooden and canvas structures that took off here a century ago. It's continuity that gives this place unique energy.

Now that you know the basic story of this place, it invites you to explore again. Walk slowly, feel the atmosphere of space and try to imagine all the sounds that have been heard over the years, from the first engines to radio announcements to the thunder of modern jet machines. Let yourself be inspired by the courage of first pilots and visions of Josef Gočár. Letiště Kbely is an open book on Czech snow about flying, and you have just read its first chapter.

Thank you for spending this short trip to history with us. We wish you a pleasant continuation in discovering this special place. Goodbye and happy exploration.