The Letov Š-10 was a biplane trainer aircraft produced in the 1920s by the Czechoslovak company Letov Kbely. It was a copy of the German design Hansa-Brandenburg B.I.

Origin and development

The Letov Š-10 was a direct copy of the Hansa-Brandenburg B.I series 76 widely used by the Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops. This type was among the most numerous aircraft found in Czechoslovakia after independence or acquired shortly after, and later it was decided to further increase the numbers through domestic production. Aero Vodochody created the Aero Ae-10, and in 1922 the production of 51 Š-10s was started at the Letov factory.[1][2] The Š-10s were built under an license.[3] They were equipped with a six-cylinder in-line Mercedes D.I engine, the pistons of whose rear cylinders were excessively flooded with oil when stationary on the ground, which earned the aircraft the nickname "anchovy" or "sardine".[2][4] Another unofficial nickname for the Ae-10 and Š-10 types was "little firecracker",[4] which they shared with the original Brandenburg B.I.[2]

Operational history

The Š-10 served the Czechoslovak Air Force, along with its related Aero Ae-10 aircraft, as a basic pilot training aircraft. Even though it was soon supplemented by the more modern Š-18, it was not completely replaced in military service until the introduction of the Praga E-39 aircraft in the early 1930s. The type was characterized by considerable stability, flight safety and overall ease of piloting,[2] which led to its popularity among pilots, but was soon felt to be a certain deficiency, as these features failed to adequately prepare students for piloting more demanding combat aircraft.[1][2] After being withdrawn from military service, some of the aircraft were acquired by aeroclubs and organizations of the Masaryk Aviation League. The Š-10.1 aircraft, named "Zdena", served at the MLL branch in Nymburk until November 1936.[5]

Operators

Specifications

Source:[6]

Technical data

  • Crew: 2 (instructor and student)
  • Span: 12.30 m (40.4 ft)
  • Length: 8.40 m (27.6 ft)
  • Bearing area: 36.52 m2 (393.1 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 668 kg (1,473 lb)
  • Takeoff weight: 966 kg (2,130 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × liquid-cooled six-cylinder in-line Mercedes D.I engine
  • Power of the drive unit: 74 kW (100 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
  • Cruising speed: 90 km/h (56 mph)
  • Climb capacity: can climb to 1,000 m elevation in 9 minutes and 30 seconds
  • Range: 400 km (250 mi)

References

  1. ^ a b Němeček 1983, p. 35.
  2. ^ a b c d e Rajlich & Sehnal 1993, p. 24.
  3. ^ Taylor, Michael J.H., ed. "Letov S-10." Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. New York: Crescent, 1993. p. 573. ISBN 0 517 10316 8.
  4. ^ a b Němeček 1983, p. 36.
  5. ^ Rajlich & Sehnal 1993, p. 41.
  6. ^ Němeček 1983, pp. 244–245.

Sources

  • Němeček, Václav (1983). Československá letadla (1918-1945) [Czechoslovak aircraft (1918-1945)] (in Czech) (3rd ed.). Naše vojsko.
  • Rajlich, Jiří; Sehnal, Jiří (1993). Vzduch je naše moře: Československé letectví 1918-1939 [The Air is Our Sea: Czechoslovak Aviation 1918-1939] (in Czech) (1 ed.). Naše vojsko. ISBN 80-206-0221-6.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letov_%C5%A0-10
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