The Avia B-534, a biplane fighter aircraft, was developed and produced by the Czechoslovak aviation company Avia.
This iconic aircraft was manufactured during the interwar period, bridging the gap between the First and Second World Wars, and became one of the most renowned Czechoslovakian planes of its time.
In 1932, the Avia B-34, a new single-engined biplane fighter aircraft, began its development under the guidance of aeronautical engineer František Novotný.
Throughout the development process, several alternative engines were considered and tested before ultimately selecting the licence-built Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine.
The prototype stage also saw the incorporation of various improvements, such as an enclosed cockpit, a revised tail, and an updated undercarriage arrangement.
On 14 April 1934, the second prototype, piloted by test pilot Václav Kočí, achieved a Czechoslovak national speed record of 365.7 kilometres per hour (227.2 mph).
Deliveries of these aircraft to the Czechoslovak Air Force commenced in October 1935.
The B-534 remained in production from 1933 to 1939, partly due to its exceptional manoeuvrability and the continued preference of some operators for the biplane design over the newer monoplane fighters.
In the late 1930s, Czechoslovakia aimed to increase production of this aircraft in response to German territorial claims in the Sudetenland.
Despite its diminishing effectiveness in combat towards the end of World War II, the B-534 was utilized by various nations and constituted a significant portion of their military air forces.
