Argus is believed to have produced the first German aircraft engine in 1906, along with many other inline, liquid-cooled automotive engines through the World War I era. Until 1914 it was the chief German aircraft engine manufacturer, but its operations ceased because of the Versailles treaty, only resuming development of aircraft engines in 1926.
The Argus As 10 was introduced in 1931, and by 1945 more than 28,700 had been built. The As 10 was used in a variety of German trainer, sport, and transport aircraft, including the Arado Ar 66 and Ar 176, Focke-Wulf FW 56A Falcon, Messerschmitt Me 108 Taifun, Gotha Go 145, and Fiessler Fi 156 Storch. The As 10 R powered the Me 108B. This particular engine was manufactured by the Walter Automobil und Flugmotorenfabriken in Prague, Czechoslovakia, after the German invasion of that country during World War II.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.