Letov Š-20

Letov · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1925 · fighter

The Letov Š-20 was a single-seat biplane fighter developed in Czechoslovakia in 1925, representing an improved version of the Š-19 with better speed and handling. It was one of the more capable Czech fighters of the mid-1920s and saw service with the Czechoslovak Air Force.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.92 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Mid-1920s Czech biplane fighter with inline engine
Sesquiplane lower wing noticeably narrower than upper
Clean cowling with Škoda or Hispano-Suiza engine

Similar to the Š-19 but with a slightly longer fuselage and different engine cowling; the unequal-span wings and strut arrangement are characteristic of Letov fighters of the era.

Specifications

The Letov Š-20 has a length of 6.92 m (23 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
Its maximum speed is 245 km/h (152 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

Designed at Letov by Alois Šmolík and first flown in 1925, the Š-20 was evaluated alongside contemporary foreign types and adopted in limited numbers by the Czechoslovak Air Force. Several variants were produced with different engines before the design was retired in the early 1930s.

Variants

Variants included versions with Škoda, Lorraine, and Hispano-Suiza engines; the Š-20L had a Lorraine-Dietrich powerplant and the Š-20J a Walter-Jupiter radial engine.

Where you'll see it

Served with the Czechoslovak Air Force from the late 1920s until replaced by more advanced designs; also demonstrated internationally but not exported in significant numbers.

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