Avia B.534 Single-Seat, Single-Engine Biplane Fighter Aircraft

Specifications

Year: 1934
Status: Retired, Out-of-Service
Manufacturer(s): Avia - Czechoslovakia
Production: 300
Capabilities: Fighter; Interception;

Crew: 1
Length: 26.90 ft (8.2 m)
Width: 30.84 ft (9.4 m)
Height: 10.17 ft (3.1 m)
Weight (Empty): 3,219 lb (1,460 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 4,674 lb (2,120 kg)

Power: 1 x Hispano-Suiza HS 12Ydrs inline piston engine developing 850 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.

Speed: 245 mph (394 kph; 213 kts)
Ceiling: 34,777 feet (10,600 m; 6.59 miles)
Range: 360 miles (580 km; 313 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 2,953 ft/min (900 m/min)

Operators: Czechoslovakia; Nazi Germany

The Czechoslovakian Avia B.534 series of biplane was a highly regarded though often forgotten product of the European nation. Some reports make it the best aircraft of its category during its early run through the 1930s. Such was the performance of the machine that the German Luftwaffe would briefly setup a fighter squadron utilizing captured B.534 aircraft.

Simply put, the Avia B.534 can be thought of as a melding of two ages in aviation history. The B.534 featured a static undercarriage and coupled with its throwback biplane wing assembly. Under that outdated facade was also four 7.7mm synchronized machine guns, a powerful 850 horsepower engine capable of 245 miles per hour and the ability for the weapon system to carry no fewer than six 44lb bombs. Handling of the system was reported to be favorable, so much so that this combination of speed, handling and firepower was highly respected.

Fuselage construction of the Avia B.534 was a unique mix of fabric-covered steel-structured wing assemblies. The fuselage, as a whole, was highly aerodynamic in nature, complete with an enclosed cockpit. The operational flight ceiling of over 30,000 necessitated this feature.

Avia B.534's would eventually see combat against the invading German forces, for the conquering German forces against the Soviet Union and ultimately phased out of service after completing several, less note-worthy, roles.

Armament

STANDARD:
4 x 7.7mm machine guns synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.

OPTIONAL:
6 x 44lb bombs

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Variants / Models

• B.234 - Base Series Designation
• B.234-IV