Letov Š-1

Letov · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1919 · fighter

The Letov Š-1 was the first aircraft produced by the newly established Czechoslovak Letov factory following the end of World War One, marking the beginning of Czechoslovak military aviation. It was a single-seat biplane fighter based on contemporary design practice.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.2 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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First aircraft built by the Czechoslovak Letov factory
Single-engine biplane fighter from immediate postwar era
Wire-braced sesquiplane with conventional WWI layout

A conventional WWI-style biplane fighter with a tractor engine, wire bracing, and a fixed undercarriage; distinguishable by Czech military markings and Letov's characteristic structural details.

Specifications

The Letov Š-1 has a length of 7.2 m (24 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
Its maximum speed is 195 km/h (121 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

Designed in 1919 as Czechoslovakia built its post-independence military forces, the Š-1 was followed by a succession of Letov designs that established the company as the primary supplier to the Czechoslovak Air Force throughout the interwar period.

Variants

The Š-1 was the initial type; subsequent Letov fighters (Š-2, Š-3, etc.) introduced progressive improvements and different engine installations.

Where you'll see it

Served with the Czechoslovak Air Force in the early 1920s as the new republic established its air arm from scratch.

Related aircraft

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