Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor

Beneš-Mráz · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1935 · light aircraft

The Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor was a compact Czech two-seat low-wing touring monoplane of the mid-1930s, produced by the Beneš-Mráz aircraft factory at Choceň. It represented the modern monoplane touring aircraft being developed across Europe in that period.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.5 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

1930s Czech light touring monoplane
Low-wing all-metal design with enclosed cabin
Small flat-four or inverted inline engine

A small, clean low-wing monoplane with a fully enclosed two-seat cabin and a flat-four or inline engine in a neat long-chord cowling. The tapered wing and fixed undercarriage with spatted wheels are typical of European touring aircraft of the era.

Specifications

The Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor has a length of 6.5 m (21 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.3 m (31 ft).
Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1935, the Beta-Minor was part of a family of light aircraft produced by Beneš-Mráz for the growing Czech civil aviation market. Production continued until the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 brought the company's activities to an end.

Variants

Several Beta variants existed, ranging from the initial Be-50 to improved versions with different engine fits; the Beta-Major was a larger development of the same concept.

Where you'll see it

The Beta-Minor served with Czech aero clubs and private owners in the late 1930s; some examples survived the occupation and returned to service post-war.

Related aircraft

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