The Aero A.42 was a Czechoslovakian bomber aircraft of 1929 that was only ever produced in prototype form. For its day, it was an advanced design, with a sleek monoplane configuration. However, the Czechoslovak Air Force was not satisfied with it for a number of reasons. In particular, the aircraft's take-off and landing runs were felt to be excessively long, and crew complained about the cramped cabin. The air force suggested a set of modifications to Aero, including replacing the wooden wing with a metal one, but Aero discontinued development.
| Aero A.42 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Aero |
| Status | Prototype |
| Primary user | Czechoslovak Air Force |
| Number built | 2 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1930 |
| First flight | 1929 |
| Retired | 1940 |
On September 20, 1930, one of the two prototypes set international speed records of 253.42 km/h (157.47 mph; 136.84 kn) over a 1,000 km (620 mi) closed circuit, carrying payloads of 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) and 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).[1]
One prototype was used by the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1938, then by the Slovak Air Force. Probably it was scrapped in 1940.[2]
The A.42 was a single-engined high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed landing gear.
Specifications (A.42)
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Data from [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: three, pilot, observer/bombardier, radio operator/gunner
- Length: 13.80 m (45 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 20.82 m (68 ft 4 in)
- Height: 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 59 m2 (640 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,940 kg (6,482 lb)
- Gross weight: 4,740 kg (10,450 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Isotta Fraschini Asso 750 W18 water-cooled piston engine, 600–750 kW (800–1,000 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
- Cruise speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn)
- Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
- Time to altitude: 50 min to 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in ventral position[citation needed]
- 1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in dorsal turret[citation needed]
- Bombs: 200 kg (441 lb) of small bombs[4]
References
edit- ^ "Isotta Fraschini Breaking Records". Flight. Vol. XXII, no. 1136. October 10, 1930. p. 1125. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
- ^ Aero A.42 at Ugolok Neba site
- ^ Haussmann & Marrand 1972, pp. 8–9.
- ^ L'Aerophile April 1931, p. 118.
- "Deux nouveaux avions militare: L'avion de bombardment Aero A 42". L'Aerophile (in French). Vol. 49, no. 4. 15 April 1931. p. 118 – via Gallica.bnf.
- Haussmann, Yaroslav; Marrand, Michel (June 1972). "Les belles Bêtes du Temps Passé: le bombardier Aero A-42 fut surtout un chasseur de records". L'Album du Fanatique de l'Aviation. No. 34. pp. 8–9.
External links
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- Photos and drawings of A.42 at Ugolok Neba