Beneš-Mráz Be-252 Beta-Scolar
Beneš-Mráz · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1937 · light aircraft
The Beneš-Mráz Be-252 Beta-Scolar was a two-seat Czechoslovak aerobatic and training aeroplane built shortly before the Second World War. It was a strengthened development of the Beta-Minor with a radial engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.45 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing wooden monoplane with tandem open cockpits
- Nine-cylinder Walter Scolar radial engine in the nose instead of the Beta-Minor inline
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage with trousered main legs
Look for a low-wing Beta-family trainer with a radial-engined nose and tandem cockpits. The wingspan was 10.66 m, the same as the Beta-Major.
Specifications
- The Beneš-Mráz Be-252 Beta-Scolar has a length of 7.45 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.66 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Pavel Beneš proposed fitting the nine-cylinder Walter Scolar radial in 1937, using the airframe of the Be-52 Beta-Major. The prototype was flown in April 1938 after several modifications.
Variants
The Be-252C was a later rebuild with an egg-shaped fuselage cross-section and an enclosed canopy. It was 7.25 m long and reached 275 km/h.
Where you'll see it
The Be-252C prototype was taken over by the Luftwaffe after the German occupation in March 1939 and tested at Rechlin. No series production followed.
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