Aero A.30
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A.30 | |
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Role | Light reconnaissance bomber |
National origin | Czechoslovakia |
Manufacturer | Aero |
Number built | 79 (+116 A.32) |
Developed from | Aero A.11 |
Variants | *Aero A.100 |
Developed into | Aero A.100 |
TheAero A.30was abiplanelight bomberandreconnaissance aircraft.It was built inCzechoslovakia,in the late 1920s. It originated as an attempt byAeroto improve the performance of theAero A.11,but soon evolved into quite a different aircraft, larger, and more powerful than its predecessor.[1]The aircraft is readily distinguished from other related types, through the difference in spans between its wings – the upper set being of much greater span than the lower.
Development
[edit]In 1926, the Ministry of National Defense (MNO) issued a request for a long-range reconnaissance and medium bomber aircraft. Aero entered the competition with the A.30, based on theAero A.11,designed by Antonín Husník. The A.11 airframe was enlarged and strengthened, and fitted with aLorraine 12E Courlisengine. Prototype test flights continued until the spring of 1927. This led to redesigns, including the tail surface, wing reinforcement system and landing gear, so that prototypes weren't considered complete until the summer of 1927.[2]
Prototypes of the A.30 were retrospectively designatedA.130,with theA.230the main production version. TheA.330andA.430featured different, more powerful engines, but the latter of these did not enter production, serving instead as the prototype for theAero A.100.
The public unveiling, organized by the Aeroclub of the Czechoslovak Republic, took place at the 4th International Air Show inPragueon 4-19 July, 1927. On 10 August, 1927 Josef Novák, the chief pilot at Aero, set several records in the A.30. This included nine national endurance records as well as speed records. Several of those were broken by Alois Ježek on 12 October, 1927 in aLetov Š-16.[3]Antonín Duchek set a national record flying an A.30 equipped with aSkoda L500 hp (367 kW) engine on 23 July, 1929.[4]
Variants
[edit]- A-30
- basic type. In total, the factory built three prototypes with the Lorraine-Dietrich 12Cc 450 HP engine (1926–1927) and five production machines with the 367 kW (500 hp) Škoda L engine in 1928 and 1929.
- Ab-30
- with split landing gear and characteristic drop-shaped covers of rubber shock absorbers. Škoda L engine with an output of 367 kW (500 hp). 12 Ab 30s produced in 1931 and 1932.
- A-130
- Walter Jupiter ( Bristol Jupiter ) radial engine prototype. 1 piece made.[5]
- A-230
- serial type with licensed Praga three-row engine (Lorraine-Dietrich 12Ccs). The type called "Lochneska"[6]produced in series in 1930–1931 was a modification of the A-30 type and an improvement of the A-130. 25 A-230s produced.
- A-330
- due to constant problems with the Škoda L engines, the A-30 and Ab-30 types (18 units) were rebuilt and the 478/551 kW (650/750 hp) Praga ESV engine was used. These machines were armed with machine guns vz. 28 and vz. 30
- A-30HS
- one converted A-30 with 441 kW (600 hp) Hispano Suiza 12Ybrs engine
- A-430
- redesigned Avia Vr-36 powered aircraft project completed as Aero A-100
Operators
[edit]- Imperial Iranian Air Forcepurchased one Aero A.30 from Czechoslovakia in 1923[citation needed]
Specifications (A.230)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Aero_A.230_3-view_L%27A%C3%A9ronautique_January%2C1927.png/220px-Aero_A.230_3-view_L%27A%C3%A9ronautique_January%2C1927.png)
Data fromJane's all the World's Aircraft 1928[7]
General characteristics
- Crew:2 (pilot & observer)
- Length:10 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan:15.3 m (50 ft 2 in)
- Wing area:46.2 m2(497 sq ft)
- Empty weight:1,420 kg (3,131 lb)
- Gross weight:2,375 kg (5,236 lb)
- Powerplant:1 ×Lorraine 12E CourlisW-12 water-cooled piston engine, 340 kW (450 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed:198 km/h (123 mph, 107 kn)
- Service ceiling:5,800 m (19,000 ft)
- Rate of climb:3 m/s (590 ft/min)
- Wing loading:50 kg/m2(10.2 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass:0.146 kW/kg (0.089 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 × forward firing 7.7 mm (0.30 in)Vickers machine gun
- 2 × 7.7 mm (0.30 in)Lewis machine gunin flexible mount for observer
- Bombs:Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) of bombs
See also
[edit]Related development
Related lists
References
[edit]- ^NÉMEČEK, Václav (1983).Československá letadla I (1918-1945), 3rd ed.Prague: Naše vojsko. p. 77–78, 250–251.
- ^https:// fronta.cz/letecky-konstrukter-antonin-husnik[bare URL]
- ^https://kramerius.army.cz/view/uuid:121fcc68-9c25-4dbb-b803-b49c2f623f66?page=uuid:117f27f5-51e4-11e9-9c8c-005056b73ae5&fulltext=Dosa%C5%BEen%C3%A9%20sv%C4%9Btov%C3%A9%20a%20n%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD%20rekordy%20leteck%C3%A9%20v%20R%C4%8CS.%20v%20roce%201927[bare URL]
- ^https://kramerius.army.cz/view/uuid:868bcb4d-30f9-45bb-9abd-6671b88500fa?page=uuid:afdfcbf4-51e9-11e9-b701-005056b73ae5&fulltext=Klubovn%C3%AD%20zpr%C3%A1vy%20Aeroklubu%20Republiky%20%C4%8Ceskoslovensk%C3%A9.%20Letectv%C3%AD.%20%C5%98%C3%ADjen%201929[bare URL]
- ^CIŽEK, Martin (2015).Letadla zrazeného nebe - Československá vojenská letadla v roce 1938.Prague: Naše vojsko. p. 75–81, 223.ISBN978-80-206-1576-3.
- ^https://web.archive.org/web/20160809172346/http:// svazletcu.cz/cs/vystava-zamek-plumlov/ceskoslovenske-letectvo-1918-1939-pr/panel-pr04[bare URL]
- ^Grey, C.G., ed. (1928).Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928.London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 75c.
Further reading
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation.London: Studio Editions.
- Němeček, Vaclav (1968).Československá letadla(in Czech). Praha: Naše Vojsko.