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Czechoslovakia's Avia B 534 fighter1
Avia B.534 fighter2
Avia B 534: |
Design
In 1937 the Avia B.534 competed in the International Aeronautical Meet at Zurich.2 The Czechoslovakian team won 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place.2 The winner was the Bf 109.2
The Avia B.534 was designed by František Novotny.2
Prototype
The B 534 prototype first flew in August 1933.1
Production
An order for 100 B.534s was placed on July 17, 1934.2 A second order was placed for 47 which was then raised to a total of 447.2 Production of the B 534 went until 1939.1
- Prototype: 11
- B 534-I: 471
- B 534-II: 991
- B 534-III: 461
- B 534-IV: 2721
- Bk 534: 351, 542
- Total: 5001
Variants
- B 534-I: Open cockpit.1 The spats on the wheels were removed.1 The guns were mounted in the wings and on the fuselage.1
- B 534-II: Had the four guns on the fuselage.1
- B 534-III: Had wheel spats added.1
- B 534-IV: Had an enclosed cockpit with a sliding canopy.1 Had one gun firing through propeller hub and the other three were on the fuselage.1
- Bk.534: A 7.7 mm MG was mounted between the engine's cylinders.2
Usage
The Avia B 534 was used by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Greece, Slovakia, and Yugoslavia.1
First Unit
The 4th Air Regiment was first equipped with the Avia B.534 in 1935.2
Combat Biplane
The Avia B 534 was one of the few biplanes that saw active service in World War II.1
Greek Air Force
The Greek Air Force received six B 534-IIIs before the start of World War II.1
Yugoslavian Air Force
The Yugoslavian Air Force received fourteen B 534-IIIs before World War II started.1
German Occupation
When the Germans occupied Czechoslovakia in March 1939 the Luftwaffe took over around 450 B 534s.1 The were used as fighters, trainers, and glider tugs.1
Slovak Air Force
When the Slovak Air Force was created 70 B 534s were transferred to their control.1,2
Three squadrons were equipped with the B 534 and sent to the Russian front in July 1941.1
Slovak Revolt
In the Slovak revolt of 1944 three surviving B 534s were used against the Germans.1
Bulgarian Air Force
The Bulgarian Air Force received 78 B 534-IVs.1 Some were used in the defense of Ploesti.1
| Avia B 5341 | Avia B 534-IV1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1 | |
| Crew | 11,2 | |
| Engine (Type) | Avia built Hispano-Suiza 12 Ydrs1 Avia-Hispano-Suiza 12 Ydrs2 |
|
| Cylinders | V 121,2 | |
| Cooling | Liquid2 | |
| HP | 8502, 8601 | |
| Propeller blades | 31 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 30' 10"1,2 9.4 m1,2 |
|
| Length | 26' 11"1,2 8.2 m1,2 |
|
| Height | 9' 2"2, 10' 2"1 2.79 m2, 3.1 m1 |
|
| Wing area | ||
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 3,218 lb1 1,460 kg1 |
|
| Loaded | 4,365 lb1,2 1,980 kg1,2 |
|
| Performance | ||
| Speed at sea level | 214 mph1 344 kph1 |
|
| Speed @ 14,435' / 4,400 m |
245 mph2 394 kph2 |
245 mph1 394 kph1 |
| Cruising speed | 215 mph1 346 kph1 |
|
| Climb | 2,950'/minute1 900 m/minute1 |
|
| Climb to 16,400' / 5,000 m |
5 minutes1 | |
| Service ceiling | 34,875'2 10,600 m2 |
34,875'1 10,630 m1 |
| Range | 373 miles2 600 km2 |
373 miles1 600 km1 |
| Armament | 4: MGs2 4: 7.7 mm MG1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- Complete Book of World War II Combat Aircraft, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, Pierluigi Pinto, 1988
