Praga BH-44

ČKD-Praga · Czechoslovakia · first flew 1932 · fighter

The Praga BH-44, designated E-44 by the Czechoslovak Air Force, was a prototype Czechoslovak fighter biplane of the early 1930s. Only two were built, and the rival Avia B-34 was ordered instead.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Single-bay biplane fighter with wooden wings and a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage
• Single water-cooled Praga V-12 engine in the nose
• Czechoslovak prototype that lost to the Avia B-34

A single-bay biplane with a wooden wing, a fabric-covered fuselage and a nose-mounted V-12 engine. It is a fighter, not a light monoplane.

Specifications

• The Praga BH-44 has a length of 7.62 m (25 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 9.25 m (30 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 330 km/h (205 mph).
• Typical crew: 1.

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

History

ČKD-Praga entered the BH-44 in a 1932 competition against the Avia B-34 and Letov Š-231. It was a single-bay biplane of mixed construction with a Praga ESV V-12 engine, and the first prototype flew on 19 July 1932. The engine gave only 370 kW (500 hp) instead of the promised 560 kW (750 hp).

Variants

The second prototype, sometimes called the EH-144, had a supercharged Praga ESVK engine and flew in April 1934. The first was re-engined with a 480 kW (650 hp) Rolls-Royce Kestrel VII and flown in October 1934 as the E-44.

Where you'll see it

The Air Force rejected it, as the imported Kestrel worked poorly with Air Force fuel and performance remained disappointing. The B-34 was bought instead.

Related aircraft

• Praga BH-41
• Praga E-39
• ČKD-Praga E-45
• Praga E.114 Air Baby
• ANF Les Mureaux 170
• Avia B-34
• Bernard 260
• Boeing P-26 Peashooter

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.