The Avia Mezek is Czech built and based on the famous German fighter Messerschmitt Bf 109G. In May 1948 desperate for an answer to the enemy's rule of the skies, Israel bought 25 inferior Czech versions of the famed Luftwaffe fighter for the princely sum of $1.8 million. The IAF's first fighter made history immediately, stopping the Egyptian advance towards Tel-Aviv at Ashdod.

Towards the end of WWII, a large number of Bf-109 G and K fighters were abandoned in Czechoslovakia by the retreating German forces. As the original engines were in short supply, the newly formed Czechoslovak AF put them into service with a different powerplant to form the Avia S-199. Between 1947 and 1951, 450 single-seat S-199s as well as 82 two-seat CS-199 trainers were built. The Avia S-199 was the standard Czechoslovak AF fighter until the first half of the 1950 with the last one retired in 1957. This example (cn 178) was restored using parts rescued from a scrapyard in Olomouc in 1969.

Czech built Messerschmitt Bf 109G. Engine Jumo-211. [Olympus PEN E-PL2 + M.Zuico 14-42mm]