| Letov Š-4 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | fighter |
| Manufacturer | Letov Kbely |
| First flight | 1922 |
| Introduction | 1923 |
| Retired | 1928 |
| Primary user | Czechoslovak Air Force |
| Number built | 20 |
The Letov Š-4 was a Czechoslovak single-bay unstaggared biplane fighter and trainer in the 1920s.
Production history[]
The Š-4 was first created in 1922 as an intended successor to the SPAD S.VII and S.XIII in service with the newly created Czechoslovak Air Force. It first flew in 1922, with fabric-covered wooden wings and a metal fuselage and tail.
Operational history[]
The Czechoslovak Air Force ordered 20 Š-4s in 1922 and these were delivered in early 1923. The plane lived out the 1920s as a fighter and trainer, but by 1927 difficulties were being experienced due to the low manufacturing quality of the Š-4. As a result, all remaining Š-4s were upgraded to Š-4a trainer aircraft in 1928.
List of operators[]
Czech Republic
Specifications[]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 6.58m (21 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 8.00 m (26 ft 2⅞ in)
- Height: 2.62m (8 ft 7⅛ in)
- Wing area: 16.43m² (176.86 ft²)
- Empty weight: 673 kg (1,484 lb)
- Loaded weight: 980 kg (2,160 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Ba, 164 kW (220 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 232 km/h (144 mph)
- Range: 500km (310 miles)
- Time to 3,000m : 9.3 minutes
Armament
- Guns: 2 x synchronised 7.7mm Vickers gun
See also[]
Bibliography[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Letov aircraft. |
- William Green and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Colour Library Direct, Godalming, UK: 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.
The original article can be found at Letov Š-4 and the edit history here.