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.