Avia B-34

B-34

Manufacturer: Avia
Designed by: František Novotný
First flight: 2 February 1932
Primaryuser: Czechoslovakian Air Force
Number built: 14

The Avia B-34 was a biplane fighter aircraft built in Czechoslovakia in the early 1930s. It was the first design of František Novotný for the Avia company and although built in only small numbers, it paved the way for the Avia B-534.

The B-34 was an all-metal single-bay biplane of conventional configuration, with tailwheel undercarriage. The mainwheels were fitted with large spats. The first prototype underwent testing in early 1932, leading to a large number of modifications being made; in particular the tail and engine cowling designs were considerably revised. The resulting B-34/1 served as the prototype for the 12 production machines ordered by the Czechoslovakian Air Force. These had an even larger vertical tail, interplane struts of narrower chord, and no wheel spats.

A second prototype, the B-34/2 was fitted with a Avia Rr 29 radial engine but never actually flown with it. It was, however, offered to the Air Force under the redesignation B-234. The second prototype was fitted with an inline piston engine, and later redesignated B-534-1. When no official interest was shown, versions powered by the Gnome-Rhx´ne 9K Mistral (B-334) and the Armstrong Siddeley Panther (B-444) were proposed, but these were not taken up either.

Units using this aircraft

Czechoslovak 3rd Air Regiment

Specifications (B-34/1)

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Length: 7.25 m (23 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 9.40 m (30 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 23.9 m˛ (257 ft˛)
Empty weight: 1,305 kg (2,877 lb)
Gross weight: 1,730 kg (3,814 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Avia Vr 30 Vee-8, 570 kW (760 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 315 km/h (196 mph)
Range: 600 km (370 miles)
Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.7 m/s (720 ft/min)

Armament

2 x— fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm wz.30 machine guns

Avia B-534

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Source: WikiPedia