Avia B-135

The Avia B.135 was a Czechoslovak cantilever monoplane fighter aircraft.

It was the production version of the Avia B.35 developed shortly before the war, based on the B.35/3 prototype but featuring a new all-metal wing.

The B.135/1 prototype attracted the attention of Bulgarian Air Force officers visiting the Avia plant, and a production contract for 12 aircraft and 62 engines was signed, as well as a license to allow an additional 50 airframes to be constructed by DAR as the DAR 11.

However, the DAR facilities proved to be incapable of producing the aircraft, and only the 12 Czech-built examples were ever made.

Plans for further production were stopped by the RLM, which also interrupted engine deliveries after 35 units, and the Bulgarian Air Force was encouraged to purchase the Messerschmitt Bf 109 instead.

Specifications

Crew

One

Length

8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)

Wingspan

10.85 m (35 ft 7 in)

Height

1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)

Wing area

17 m2 (180 sq ft)

Empty weight

2,063 kg (4,548 lb)

Max take-off weight

2,547 kg (5,615 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Avia (Hispano-Suiza) 12Ycrs, V-12 liquid cooled piston engine,

641 kW (860 hp)

Propellers

2-bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

535 km/h (332 mph, 289 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

Cruise speed

460 km/h (290 mph, 250 kn)

Range

550 km (340 mi, 300 nmi)

Service ceiling

8,500 m (27,900 ft)

Rate of climb

13.5 m/s (2,660 ft/min)

Armament

Guns

1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG FF cannon

2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) vz. 30 machine guns.