Verner W-01 Brouček
Vladislav Verner (homebuilt) · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1970 · light aircraft
The Verner W-01 Brouček (Czech for 'Beetle') is a homebuilt single-seat light aircraft designed by VZLÚ engineer Vladislav Verner, considered the first amateur-constructed aircraft in Czechoslovakia since the Second World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Enclosed cockpit with bubble canopy over a minimal fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Very compact single-seat homebuilt with low tapered wing
- Enclosed cockpit with bubble canopy over a minimal fuselage
- Short undercarriage giving a characteristically squat ground attitude
Extremely small and compact even among light singles; the low tapered wing, enclosed cockpit, and very short nose give it a toy-like appearance on the ground. The Praga engine installation has no visible cowl flaps.
Specifications
- The Verner W-01 Brouček has a length of 5 m (16 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.08 m (20 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Verner began designing the Brouček around 1963 while employed at the Aeronautical Research and Test Institute (VZLÚ) in Prague. Construction was completed in the winter of 1969–70, and the aircraft made its first flights in 1970. It was powered by an 85 hp Praga D engine. The aircraft represented a quiet act of individualism under a centralised aviation regime and attracted attention internationally after photographs reached Western aviation journals.
Variants
A single example was built; the design led Verner to develop the W-02, an adaptation of Burt Rutan's VariEze using locally available Czechoslovak materials.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Verner as a private homebuilt; the original aircraft survived and is preserved at the Prague–Kbely Air Museum.
Related aircraft
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