View source for Engineering:Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor

<!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. -->
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
 |name=Be-50 Beta-Minor
 |image=B-50 Beta Minor (OK-EAA).jpg
 |caption=Be-50 Beta-Minor
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
 |type=Sports plane
 |manufacturer=Beneš-Mráz
 |designer=[[Biography:Pavel Beneš|Pavel Beneš]] and Jaroslav Mráz
 |first flight=1935
 |introduced=
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary user=
 |more users=
 |produced=
 |number built=
 |variants with their own articles=
}}
|}

The '''Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor''' was a light airplane manufactured in [[Place:Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovakia]] shortly before [[Social:World War II|World War II]].

==Design and development==
First flown in 1935, it was a low-wing [[Engineering:Cantilever|cantilever]] [[Engineering:Monoplane|monoplane]] of wooden construction, with tandem open [[Engineering:Cockpit|cockpit]]s and fixed [[Engineering:Conventional landing gear|tailwheel undercarriage]].  The aircraft proved popular with Czechoslovakia's aeroclubs and was successful in international competitions.  In 1937, the designers created a modernised version, the '''Be-51''', which featured a reduced wingspan and fully enclosed cockpits. A final variant, the '''Be-52 Beta-Major''' retained the Be-50's open cockpits but featured improved aerodynamics and a more powerful Walter Major engine.

==Operational history==
Like other Czechoslovakian aircraft, all available machines were impressed into Air Force service at the outbreak of war. Several Be-51s survived to be used by the ''Luftwaffe'' as liaison aircraft and trainers during the occupation.<ref>Ketley, Barry, and Rolfe, Mark. ''Luftwaffe Fledglings 1935–1945: Luftwaffe Training Units and their Aircraft'' (Aldershot, GB: Hikoki Publications, 1996), p.11.</ref>

In 2015, replica of Be-50 started operating. It crashed at airshow in August 2018, killing its pilot. <ref>[https://zpravy.idnes.cz/prachatice-letecky-den-nehoda-letectvi-historicky-letoun-pm4-/domaci.aspx?c=A180811_151054_domaci_linv Na Prachaticku spadlo unikátní letadlo Be 50 Beta Minor, pilot zemřel – iDNES.cz<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Variants==
;Be-50 Beta-Minor:Tandem open cockpits and {{cvt|12.66|m}} span wings.
;Be-51 Beta-Minor:tandem seats in an enclosed cabin and {{cvt|11.44|m}} span wings.
;Be-52 Beta-Major:Strengthened and more powerful two-seat aerobatic trainer, with {{cvt|10.66|m}} span wings.
;[[Engineering:Beneš-Mráz Be-56 Beta-Major|Be-56 Beta-Major]]:Strengthened and more powerful single-seat aerobatic trainer, with {{cvt|10.66|m}} span wings.

==Operators==
;{{flag|Independent State of Croatia}}
*{{wipe|Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia}}
;{{flag|Germany|Nazi}}
*Luftwaffe
;{{flag|Slovakia|1938}}
*{{wipe|Slovak Air Force (1939–45)}}

==Specifications (Be-51 Beta-Minor) ==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=<ref name="Greenaottr">{{cite book|last=Green|first=William|title=Aircraft of the Third Reich|publisher=Aerospace Publishing Limited|location=London|year=2010|edition=1st|pages=105|isbn=978-1-900732-06-2}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2
|length m=7.76
|span m=11.44
|height m=2.05
|wing area sqm=15.3
|empty weight kg=480
|max takeoff weight kg=760
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Walter Minor
|eng1 type=4-cyl. inverted air-cooled in-line piston engine
|eng1 kw=71
|eng1 note=for take-off

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed pitch propeller
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=205
|max speed note=at sea level
|cruise speed kmh=180
|range km=800
|ceiling m=5,000
|time to altitude={{convert|1,000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in 6 minutes
}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=152 }}
* {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 890 Sheet 25 }}
* Němeček, V. (1968). ''Československá letadla''. Praha: Naše Vojsko.
*{{cite book|last=Green|first=William|title=Aircraft of the Third Reich|publisher=Aerospace Publishing Limited|location=London|year=2010|edition=1st|pages=105|isbn=978-1-900732-06-2}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Benes-Mraz Be-50 Beta-Minor}}
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor}}