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.

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 and 1939.



The Aero A.11 was the basis of the later Aero A.25 Aero A.29, Aero A.30, and Aero A.32 aircraft.

Aircraft A-11.105 was modified in 1928 with a 240 hp (176 kw) Walter Castor I engine installed, and first flown in March 1930. After undergoing military trials, 25 planes were produced as the Aero A.211 from 1930-1933. The A.211 featured advanced instrumentation in comparison to the A.11, was lengthened to 8.6m, and the weight was reduced to 880 kg. These planes carried no weapons and stayed in service until around 1939.

After the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Slovak Air Force retained 3 Aš.11, 3 AP.32, 1 A.25, and 3 A.211s. The aircraft that remained in the Czech Republic were captured by Germany and A.211s were used by the Luftwaffe for training, with 4 units still on the books as of May 1940.

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.



Operators

 * Czechoslovak Air Force
 * Finnish Air Force
 * Finnish Air Force
 * Finnish Air Force

Specifications (Ab.11)
{{Aircraft specs
 * ref=Tschechoslowakische Flugzeuge : von 1918 bis heute
 * prime units?=met


 * crew=2
 * length m=8.2
 * length note=
 * span m=12.8
 * span note=
 * height m=3.1
 * height note=(A.11}
 * wing area sqm=36.5
 * wing area note=
 * aspect ratio=
 * airfoil=
 * empty weight kg=1080
 * empty weight note=
 * gross weight kg=1588
 * gross weight note=
 * 1537 kg (A.11}


 * max takeoff weight kg=
 * max takeoff weight note=
 * fuel capacity=
 * more general=


 * eng1 number=1
 * eng1 name=Breitfield-Danek Perun II
 * eng1 type=6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine
 * eng1 kw=180
 * eng1 note=
 * 176 kW Walter W.IV (A.11}


 * prop blade number=2
 * prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
 * prop dia m=
 * prop dia note=


 * max speed kmh=216
 * max speed note=
 * 240 km/h (A.11}


 * cruise speed kmh=190
 * cruise speed note=
 * stall speed kmh=
 * stall speed note=
 * never exceed speed kmh=
 * never exceed speed note=
 * range km=750
 * range note=
 * combat range km=
 * combat range note=
 * ferry range km=
 * ferry range note=
 * endurance=
 * ceiling m=7000
 * ceiling note=
 * 7600 m (A.11}


 * g limits=
 * roll rate=
 * climb rate ms=3.82
 * climb rate note= (A.11}
 * time to altitude=5000 m in 19 minutes 30 seconds
 * wing loading kg/m2=43.7
 * wing loading note=
 * 42 kg/m2 (A.11}


 * fuel consumption kg/km=
 * power/mass=0.120 kW/kg (A.11}
 * more performance=

}}
 * 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 (A.11}}