Letov Š-50
Letov · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Letov Š-50 was a modern single-seat fighter monoplane designed in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s with retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit, intended to replace older biplane fighters in Czechoslovak Air Force service. It first flew in 1938 but never entered production due to the German occupation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Late 1930s Czech low-wing monoplane fighter
- Retractable undercarriage and enclosed cockpit
- Radial engine with NACA cowling
A contemporary-looking late 1930s monoplane fighter with a radial engine and clean low-wing design; comparable in general appearance to the Avia B-135 or early Bf 109.
Specifications
- The Letov Š-50 has a length of 8.2 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 490 km/h (304 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Letov in the late 1930s as Czechoslovakia modernised its air force, the Š-50 flew for the first time in 1938—the same year Germany occupied the Sudetenland. The subsequent German occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939 ended the programme before production could begin.
Variants
Only a prototype was built; no production or variant aircraft were completed.
Where you'll see it
Never entered Czechoslovak Air Force service; the programme was terminated by the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939.
Related aircraft
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