Aero A.30

The Aero A.30 was a biplane light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft built in Czechoslovakia in the late 1920s. It originated as an attempt by Aero to improve the performance of the Aero A.11, but soon evolved into quite a different aircraft, larger and more powerful than its predecessor. The aircraft is readily distinguished from other related types by the difference in spans between its wings – the upper set being of much greater span than the lower.

Development
In 1926, the Ministry of National Defense (MNO) issued a request for a long-range reconnaissance and medium bomber aircraft. Aero entered the competition with the A.30, based on the Aero A.11, designed by Antonín Husník. The A.11 airframe was enlarged and strengthened, and fitted with a Lorraine 12E Courlis engine. Prototype test flights continued until the spring of 1927. This led to redesigns, including the tail surface, wing reinforcement system and landing gear, so that prototypes weren't considered complete until the summer of 1927.

Prototypes of the A.30 were retrospectively designated A.130, with the A.230 the main production version. The A.330 and A.430 featured different, more powerful engines, but the latter of these did not enter production, serving instead as the prototype for the Aero A.100.

The public unveiling, organized by the Aeroclub of the Czechoslovak Republic, took place at the 4th International Air Show in Prague on 4-19 July, 1927. On 10 August, 1927 Josef Novák, the chief pilot at Aero, set several records in the A.30. This included nine national endurance records as well as speed records. Several of those were broken by Alois Ježek on 12 October, 1927 in a Letov Š-16. Antonín Duchek set a national record flying an A.30 equipped with a Skoda L 500 hp (367 kW) engine on 23 July, 1929.

Variants

 * A-30: basic type. In total, the factory built three prototypes with the Lorraine-Dietrich 12Cc 450 HP engine (1926–1927) and five production machines with the 367 kW (500 hp) Škoda L engine in 1928 and 1929.
 * Ab-30: with split landing gear and characteristic drop-shaped covers of rubber shock absorbers. Škoda L engine with an output of 367 kW (500 hp). 12 Ab 30s produced in 1931 and 1932.
 * A-130: Walter Jupiter ( Bristol Jupiter ) radial engine prototype . 1 piece made.
 * A-230: serial type with licensed Praga three-row engine (Lorraine-Dietrich 12Ccs). The type called "Lochneska" produced in series in 1930–1931 was a modification of the A-30 type and an improvement of the A-130. 25 A-230s produced.
 * A-330: due to constant problems with the Škoda L engines, the A-30 and Ab-30 types (18 units) were rebuilt and the 478/551 kW (650/750 hp) Praga ESV engine was used. These machines were armed with machine guns vz. 28 and vz. 30
 * A-30HS: one converted A-30 with 441 kW (600 hp) Hispano Suiza 12Ybrs engine
 * A-430: redesigned Avia Vr-36 powered aircraft project completed as Aero A-100

Operators
Iran
 * Czechoslovak Air Force
 * Czechoslovak Air Force
 * Imperial Iranian Air Force purchased one Aero A.30 from Czechoslovakia in 1923