The backbone of the IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199s (purchased from Czechoslovakia, essentially Czechoslovak-built Messerschmitt Bf 109s) and 62 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IXEs ferried from Žatec base code-named "Zebra" where pilots also received preliminary flight training.
The flooding was not the only reason of the landslide - structure of the hillside resulted in constant slow shift down, sandstone quarries used for centuries had lowered stability of the slope and the recently built railway Plzeň – Žatec cut yet another dent to the hill.
Žatec became famous for an over-700-year-long tradition of growing Saaz noble hops used by several breweries.
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In 1948 the production facility continued to produce the Avia S-199, a version of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft which were sold to Israel, with the initial training for the Israeli pilots provided at the air base.
Žatec |