Aero A.34

A.34 Kos
Aircraft Aero A-34 piloted by Josef Novák (1893-1934) during the Challenge International de Tourisme 1929.
Role	Light Sport Aircraft
National origin	Czechoslovakia
Manufacturer	Aero Vodochody
First flight	1929

The Aero A.34 Kos (Czech: "Blackbird") was a small sports and touring biplane built in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s.^[1]

It was designed in 1929. The design was similar to De Havilland Gipsy Moth. Of conventional biplane configuration, wooden construction, it featured wings that could be folded to allow it to be towed to and from airfields by automobile (width 2.91 m).

A prototype (registration L-BASO) had an 85 hp Walter Vega radial engine. It took part in the Challenge 1929 international contest (piloted by Josef Novak), but had to withdraw due to engine failure and crash landing on August 8, 1929.

Seven A.34s and its variants were built, with different engines: three A.34J had the Walter Junior engine, and three A.134 the 100 hp Walter Venus. They were used as trainers and sportsplanes in Czechoslovak civilian and military aviation.

Variants

• A.34
• A.34J
• A.34W : Three aircraft powered by the 105 hp (78 kW) Walter Junior in-line piston engine.
• A.134 : One prototype powered by the 130 hp (97 kW) Walter NZ radial piston engine.

Specifications (A.34)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
• Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 21.3 m² (229 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 400 kg (882 lb)
• Gross weight: 640 kg (1,411 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Walter Vega five-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine, 63 kW (84 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 160 km/h (99 mph; 86 kn)
• Range: 320 km (199 mi; 173 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 2.11 m/s (416 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 30 kg/m² (6.1 lb/sq ft)
• Power/mass: 100 W/kg (0.06 hp/lb)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• De Havilland Gipsy Moth
• PZL.5
• Caudron C.230

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aero A-34.