Engineering:Letov Š-4

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Letov Š-4
Letov Š-4.jpg
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Letov Kbely
First flight 1922
Introduction 1923
Retired 1928
Primary user Czechoslovak Air Force
Number built 20

The Letov Š-4 was a Czechoslovak single-bay, unstaggered biplane fighter and trainer in the 1920s.

Production history

The Š-4 was first created in 1922 as an intended successor to the SPAD S.VII and S.XIII, in service with the newly created Czechoslovak Air Force . It first flew in 1922, with fabric-covered wooden wings and a metal fuselage and tail.

Operational history

The Czechoslovak Air Force ordered 20 Š-4s in 1922 and these were delivered in early 1923. The plane lived out the 1920s as a fighter and trainer, but by 1927 difficulties were being experienced due to the low manufacturing quality of the Š-4. As a result, all remaining Š-4s were upgraded to Š-4a trainer aircraft in 1928.

List of operators

 Czech Republic

Specifications

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.58 m (21 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 15.9 m2 (171 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 673 kg (1,484 lb)
  • Gross weight: 980 kg (2,161 lb)
  • Powerplant: × Hispano-Suiza 8Ba V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 160 kW (220 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 232 km/h (144 mph, 125 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 6,200 m (20,300 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 9.3 minutes
  • Wing loading: 61.5 kg/m2 (12.6 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.16 kW/kg (0.1 hp/lb)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 x synchronised 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine-guns

See also

Related lists

References

  1. Grey, C.G., ed (1924). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 87b. 

Bibliography

  • Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1997). The complete book of fighters : an illustrated encyclopedia of every fighter aircraft built and flown. Surrey: Colour Library Direct. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.