Aero A.11

The Aero A.11 was a biplane light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft built in Czechoslovakia between the First and Second World Wars. It formed the basis for many other Czechoslovakian military aircraft of the inter-war period. Around 250 were built, with some remaining in service at the outbreak of World War II.

Aero A.11
Role Light bomber
Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer Aero Vodochody
First flight 1925
Introduction 1920s
Retired 1940s
Primary users Czech Air Force
Finnish Air Force
Number built ~250

Designed by Antonin Husnik, it was a development of the Aero A.12 (despite what the numbering of the designs might suggest). A Hispano-Suiza 8Fb-powered version, the A.11H-s was built for the Finnish Air Force, the only foreign operator of the type. The Finns had eight aircraft of this type and used them between 1927-39.

Replica Ab.11 in the Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely

Variants
  • A.11 : Two-seat light bomber, reconnaissance biplane.
  • A.11HS : Export version for Finland.
  • A.11N : Night bomber version.
  • Ab.11 : Light bomber version.
Aero Ab.11 L-BUCD

Operators
 Czechoslovakia
 Finland

Specifications (Ab.11)

Data from Tschechoslowakische Flugzeuge : von 1918 bis heute[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) (A.11}
  • Wing area: 36.5 m2 (393 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,080 kg (2,381 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,588 kg (3,501 lb)
1,537 kg (3,389 lb) (A.11}
  • Powerplant: 1 × Breitfield-Danek Perun II 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 180 kW (240 hp)
176 kW (236 hp) Walter W.IV (A.11}
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 216 km/h (134 mph, 117 kn)
240 km/h (150 mph; 130 kn) (A.11}
  • Cruise speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
  • Range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
7,600 m (24,934 ft) (A.11}
  • Rate of climb: 3.82 m/s (752 ft/min) (A.11}
  • Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 19 minutes 30 seconds
  • Wing loading: 43.7 kg/m2 (9.0 lb/sq ft)
42 kg/m2 (8.6 lb/sq ft) (A.11}

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 1× forward firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun (A.11}
    • 2× .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis machine gun in flexible mount for observer (A.11}
  • Bombs: 200 kg (441 lb) (A.11}}

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References
  1. Tschechoslowakische Flugzeuge : von 1918 bis heute (in German and English) (1st ed.). Berlin: Transpress : VEB verlag fur Verkehrsween. 1987. pp. 166–167. ISBN 3344001213.
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