Aero A.101
Aero Vodochody · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1934 · bomber
The Aero A.101 was a Czechoslovak single-engine biplane bomber of the mid-1930s, powered by a licence-built Isotta Fraschini Asso 1000 V-12 engine and capable of carrying a useful bomb load. Some 95 were built, with exports to the Spanish Republic and Ethiopia making it one of Czechoslovakia's more successful export aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.09 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Czechoslovak single-engine biplane bomber with fixed undercarriage
- Isotta Fraschini Asso 1000 V-12 engine
- 95 built; exported to Spanish Republic and Ethiopia
A large two-bay biplane with a long V-12 engine nose, fixed undercarriage, and three open cockpits. The substantial size distinguishes it from lighter Czech biplanes, and the V-12 engine installation gives a narrower nose profile than radial-engined contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Aero A.101 has a length of 12.09 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 265 km/h (165 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in 1933–34, the A.101 entered Czech Air Force service and simultaneously found export customers, most notably the Spanish Republican Air Force which received 50 aircraft during the Spanish Civil War. The Ethiopian Air Force also acquired examples. The type was obsolescent by the time of the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, but its export success demonstrated Czechoslovakia's standing as a significant aircraft manufacturer.
Variants
No major variants; minor equipment differences between Czech and export batches.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Czechoslovak Air Force, Spanish Republican Air Force, and Ethiopian Air Force in the 1930s.
Related aircraft
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