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The Avia BH-1 was a two-seat sports plane built in Czechoslovakia in 1920. It was the first product of the Avia company, and it was originally designated BH-1 exp. The BH-1 was a low-wing braced monoplane of wooden construction, with tailskid undercarriage. Power was provided by a Daimler engine, which proved inadequate to fly the aircraft with both seats occupied.
| BH-1 | |
|---|---|
_aircraft.jpg) An Avia BH-1 replica, OK-GUU25 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Sportsplane |
| Manufacturer | Avia |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 1 + 1 airworthy replica |
| History | |
| First flight | 13 October 1920 |
Soon after its first flight, it was exhibited at the inaugural International Aviation Exhibition in Prague. Its reception there was so enthusiastic that Czechoslovak president Tomáš Masaryk awarded Avia a 100,000 CSK development grant.
The BH-1 was subsequently rebuilt with a Gnome Omega rotary engine and was finally able to fly with two people aboard. It was known as the BH-1 bis in this configuration, and in 1921 won the Czechoslovak national cross-country rally with an average speed of 125 km/h (78 mph) over the 860 km (536 mi) course. The aircraft was damaged in a crash the following spring and was never repaired, having been surpassed by improved designs.
In 2004, Marcel Sezemský built a flying replica of the aircraft, powered by a Walter Mikron engine.
Specifications (BH-1 exp)
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General characteristics
- Crew: one pilot
- Capacity: one passenger intended
- Length: 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 10.08 m (33 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 10.4 m2 (112 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 270 kg (595 lb)
- Gross weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Austro Daimler inline 4 engine, liquid cooled , 26–29 kW (35–40 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 137 km/h (85 mph, 74 kn)
- Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,483 ft)
References
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- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 86.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 889 Sheet 86.
- vyrobce.cz