Proto 1 was a training biplane designed by Major Ștefan Protopopescu in collaboration with Dumitru Baziliu and Gheorghe Ticău at Arsenalul Aeronautic in Bucharest in 1922.

[1][2] The first experimental flights were carried out by its designer, Ștefan Protopopescu, who held the Romanian pilot licence No.1.

The Ministry of War ordered 25 aircraft on 10 January 1923[3] of this type from the Fabrica de avioane Astra.

The Astra Factory changed the wings on its own initiative, which reduced the strength of the wings, and during an early test flight, one of the wings broke and the aircraft crashed into the Mureș river, killing the test pilot.

[2] Data from Romanian Aeronautical Constructions 1905-1974[2]General characteristics Performance