The Ae-45 is a twin-engine, low-wing utility aircraft developed and manufactured by Aero Vodochody of Czechoslovakia. Frequently referenced as the “Aero,” it can accommodate up to five passengers, including two in the cockpit. It took its maiden flight on July 21, 1947, and was introduced in 1948. The Ae-145 is an advanced version of the original Ae-45 that features supercharged engines, refined avionics, improved flight controls, and an enhanced canopy. A total of 590 of all Aero variants were built during a production run that spanned from 1947 to 1961; 162 of these were Ae-145s, built between 1959 and 1963.