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Letov S-4

The S-4 was first created in 1922 as an intended successor to the SPAD S.VII and S.XIII, For service with the newly created Czechoslovak Air Force.

It first flew in 1922, with fabric-covered wooden wings and a metal fuselage and tail.

The Czechoslovak Air Force ordered 20 Š-4s in 1922 and these were delivered in early 1923.

The plane lived out the 1920s as a fighter and trainer, but by 1927 difficulties were being experienced due to the low manufacturing quality of the SH-4.

As a result, all remaining SH-4s were upgraded to SH-4a trainer aircraft in 1928.

20 aircraft were built.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

6.58 m (21 ft 7 in)

Wingspan

8 m (26 ft 3 in)

Height

2.62 m (8 ft 7 in)

Wing area

15.9 m2 (171 sq ft)

Empty weight

673 kg (1,484 lb)

Gross weight

980 kg (2,161 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Ba,

V-8 water-cooled piston engine,

160 kW (220 hp)

Propellers

2-bladed wooden fixed pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

232 km/h (144 mph, 125 kn)

Service ceiling

6,200 m (20,300 ft)

Time to altitude

3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 9.3 minutes

Wing loading

61.5 kg/m2 (12.6 lb/sq ft)

Power/mass

0.16 kW/kg (0.1 hp/lb)

Armament

Guns

2 x synchronized 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine-guns.

 

 

 

 

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