Avia BH-3
Avia · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1921 · fighter
The Avia BH-3 was one of the first indigenous Czechoslovak fighter aircraft, designed by Pavel Beneš and Miroslav Hajn and first flown in 1921. It represented a foundational step in building the Czechoslovak aviation industry.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.98 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- One of the first Czechoslovak indigenous fighter designs
- Single-seat biplane from 1921
- Early Beneš-Hajn design with inline engine
A conventional single-seat biplane fighter of immediate post-WWI design with an inline engine, open cockpit, and fixed undercarriage — nearly indistinguishable from German and French contemporaries of 1921 without identifying markings.
Specifications
- The Avia BH-3 has a length of 6.98 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.24 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed at the very outset of independent Czechoslovakia's aviation ambitions, the BH-3 emerged from the collaboration between Beneš and Hajn and established the Avia company's trajectory toward fighter aircraft. It was a biplane fighter representative of immediate post-WWI design practice. The BH-3 led directly to the BH-4, BH-7, BH-21, and ultimately the BH-33 family.
Variants
The BH-3 was the starting point of the BH series; it did not have formal variants but led immediately to the BH-4.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1921-22 as part of the process of establishing an indigenous fighter capability.
Related aircraft
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