World War 2 In Review: Czechoslovak air force

Aero A.100.1.

The Aero A.100 was a biplane light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft built in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. It was the final step in a design lineage that extended back to the Aero A.11 a decade earlier. A.100s remained in service throughout World War II and for a few years postwar.

Development of the A.100 was in response to a Czechoslovak Air Force requirement of 1932 for a uniform replacement for the A.11s, Aero Ap.32s, and Letov Š.16s then in service. Work began with a revision of the Aero A.430 that quickly became quite a different aircraft. Of standard biplane configuration, the A.100 was a somewhat ungainly-looking aircraft and somewhat obsolescent by the time of its first flight in 1933, a member of the final generation of biplane military aircraft to be designed in Europe.

Nevertheless, since the only other competitor for the air force contract, the Praga E.36 had not flown by the close of tenders, the A.100 was ordered for production. A total of 44 were built, in two batches.

The Aero A.100 was later developed into Aero A.101 with Praga Isotta Fraschini Asso 1000 RV engine (800 h.p.), first flying in December 1934, this type served in the Spanish Civil War curiously on both sides of the conflict. Further development led to Aero Ab.101 (enlarged hull and wings plus Avia Hispano Suiza HS 12 Ydrs engine rated 860 h.p.) produced from 1936 to 1937 and serving in the Czechoslovak Air Force up to its dissolution in March 1939. Final stage of the development was Aero A.104, where Ab.101 was converted to a high-wing monoplane with enclosed cockpit, only one prototype was built in 1937.

Speciation (A.100)

Role: Light bomber, reconnaissance aircraft

National origin: Czechoslovakia

Manufacturer: Aero Vodochody

First flight: 1933

Retired: late 1940s

Primary user: Czechoslovakian Air Force

Produced: 1933-1935

Number built: 44

Crew: 2

Length: 11.08 m (36 ft 4 in)

Wingspan: 14.70 m (48 ft 3 in)

Height: 3.60 m (11 ft 10 in)

Wing area: 44.3 m² (476 ft²)

Empty weight: 2,040 kg (4,490 lb)

Loaded weight: 3,220 kg (7,080 lb)

Maximum takeoff weight: 3,219 kg (7,098 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Avia Vr.36, 552 kW (740 hp)

Maximum speed: 270 km/h (150 knots, 170 mph)

Range: 900 km (490 nm, 560 mi)

Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 4.2 m/s (820 ft/min)

Wing loading: 73 kg/m² (9.4 lb/ft²)

Power/mass: 170 W/kg (0.10 hp/lb)

Guns: 2× forward-firing 7.92 mm (0.312 in) vz. 30 (Česká zbrojovka Strakonice) machine guns; 2× 7.92 mm vz. 30 (Česká zbrojovka Strakonice) machine guns in a ring mount observer

Bombs: 600 kg (1,300 lb)

Bibliography

Ketley, Barry and Mark Rolfe. Luftwaffe Fledglings 1935-1945: Luftwaffe Training Units and their Aircraft. Aldershot, UK: Hikoki Publications, 1996.

Sharpe, Michael. Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes. London: Friedman/Fairfax Books, 2000.

Taylor, John W. R. and Jean Alexander. Combat Aircraft of the World. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969.

Taylor, Michael J.H., ed. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation (2nd ed.). New York: Portland House, 1989.