The Aero A.42, an experimental bomber aircraft from Czechoslovakia in 1929, remained solely as a prototype and was never mass-produced.
During its time, it boasted an innovative design featuring a streamlined monoplane structure.
However, the Czechoslovak Air Force expressed dissatisfaction with several aspects of the aircraft.
Notably, the take-off and landing distances were deemed excessively lengthy, and the crew voiced concerns about the cramped cabin space.
In response, the Air Force proposed a series of modifications to Aero, such as substituting the wooden wing with a metal alternative.
Regrettably, Aero decided to discontinue the development of the A.42.
On the 20th of September 1930, one of the two prototypes achieved international speed records of 253.42 km/h (157.47 mph; 136.84 kn) over a 1,000 km (620 mi) closed circuit, while carrying payloads of 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) and 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).
The other prototype was utilized by the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1938, and subsequently by the Slovak Air Force.
It is believed that the aircraft was likely dismantled in 1940.
A.42 was designed as a single-engined high-wing cantilever monoplane featuring fixed landing gear.
Specifications
Crew
Three
Length
13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
Wingspan
20.8 m (68 ft 3 in)
Height
3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
Wing area
54 m2 (580 sq ft)
Empty weight
2,940 kg (6,482 lb)
Gross weight
4,740 kg (10,450 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Isotta-Fraschini Asso 750 W-18, water cooled piston engine,
597 kW (801 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed
270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
Service ceiling
7,000 m (23,000 ft)
Rate of climb
1.67 m/s (329 ft/min)
Wing loading
88 kg/m2 (18 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.080 kW/kg (0.08 hp/lb)
Armament
Guns
1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in ventral position
1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in dorsal turret
Bombs
400 kg (882 lb) of small bombs.
Sources
Czechoslovakian Air Force, 1918-1970, Aircam Aviation Special 05-Richard Ward, Zdenek Titz & Gordon C. Davies.
Ceskoslovenské Letectvo, 1918-1924-Jiří Rajlich & Jiří Sehnal.
