Aero A.18
| Aero A.18 | |
|---|---|
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| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
March 1923 |
| Number of pieces: |
23 |
The Aero A.18 was a single-seat biplane fighter aircraft built by the Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero .
history
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The A.18 is a further development of the two-seater Aero A.11 with changes in the structure.
The machine was developed based on an order for a new single-seat fighter from the Czechoslovak Air Force. So initially three different prototypes with the names A.16, A.19 and A.20 were created at Aero. The A.18 emerged as the winner from the performance comparison of the three machines and series production began.
20 copies of the A.18 were delivered to the Czechoslovak Air Force. The machines were powered by a BMW type IIIa in-line engine with an output of 136 kW (185 hp), and they were armed with two rigid Vickers machine guns that fired synchronously forward through the propeller circle .
Versions
Aero A.18B
This version was created from the basic model when Aero wanted to take part in a national air race in 1923. The A.18B had a smaller wingspan than the A.18 and was unarmed. The race was won, but the other two participants crashed.
Aero A.18C
The A.18C , also intended for racing, was a more powerfully motorized version of the A.18B , equipped with a 220 kW (300 hp) Walter W IV engine. This enabled the machine to reach a top speed of 275 km / h and win the race of the Czech Aero Club in 1924 with an average speed of 261 km / h.
Military users
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data Aero A.18 | Data Aero A.18B | Data Aero A.18C |
|---|---|---|---|
| crew | 1 | ||
| length | 5.90 m | ||
| span | 7.60 m | 5.70 m | |
| Wing area | 15.90 m² | 9.84 m² | |
| Empty mass | 637 kg | ||
| Max. Launch mass (armed) | 862 kg | ||
| drive | an in-line engine, type BMW IIIa ; 136 kW (185 hp) | a Walter W-IV engine; 220 kW (300 PS) | |
| Top speed | 229 km / h | 275 km / h | |
| Cruising speed | 246 km / h | ||
| Range | 400 km | ||
| Service ceiling | 9000 m | ||
| Armament | two rigid synchronized Vickers machine guns firing forward | - | |
See also
literature
- Michael Sharpe: Biplanes, Triplanes and Seaplanes. Friedman / Fairfax Books, London 2000, ISBN 1-58663-300-7 , p. 16.
