Avia BH-33
Avia · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1927 · fighter
The Avia BH-33 was a Czechoslovak single-seat fighter biplane developed in the late 1920s by Avia's Beneš-Hajn design team. It was one of the more successful Czech fighter designs of the interwar period and was exported.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.04 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Czech 1920s single-seat biplane fighter
- Upper wing shorter in span than the lower wing
- Used by Czechoslovak, Polish and Yugoslav air forces
A compact single-seat biplane fighter with a radial engine, narrow-chord wings, and a clean overall appearance. Distinguished from contemporaries by its Avia design signature of neat lines and relatively compact dimensions.
Specifications
- The Avia BH-33 has a length of 7.04 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.9 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 242 km/h (150 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Pavel Beneš and Miroslav Hajn, the BH-33 first flew in 1927 and entered service with the Czechoslovak Air Force. It represented a notable achievement for the Czech aircraft industry and was also ordered by Yugoslavia. The aircraft was agile and well-regarded for its handling, though it was superseded by more modern monoplane fighters within a decade.
Variants
The BH-33E had a welded steel-tube fuselage and was used by Yugoslavia, Belgium and Spain. The BH-33L, powered by a Skoda L inline engine, was the production standard for Czechoslovakia. The Polish-built PWS-A used a Jupiter IV like the original BH-33.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Czechoslovak Air Force, with Poland (as the licence-built PWS-A, 1930-1936) and with Yugoslavia; BH-33Es also went to Belgium and Spain.
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- Avia BH-26
- Avia BH-27
- Avia BH-28
- Avia BH-29
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- Avro 584 Avocet
- Blackburn Turcock
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