The Avia BH-33 was a biplanefighter aircraft built in Czechoslovakia in 1927. It was based on the BH-21J which demonstrated promising results by combining the original BH-21 airframe with a licence-built Bristol Jupiterradial engine. Other than the peculiar Avia hallmark of having an upper wing with a shorter span than the lower, it was utterly conventional, even featuring a tail fin for the first time in a Pavel Beneš and Miroslav Hajn design (previous aircraft had a rudder but no fin).
Initial tests of the first prototype were disappointing, displaying performance only marginally better than the BH-21, even when fitted with a more powerful version of the Jupiter. Two further prototypes followed, both designated BH-33-1, each with an increasingly powerful Jupiter variant – one a Jupiter VI, the other a Jupiter VII. The performance of the latter example was finally acceptable for the Czechoslovakian defence ministry to order a small production run of only five aircraft.
Three examples were sold to Belgium, where there were plans to build the type under licence, but this did not occur. Licence production was undertaken, however, in Poland, where a single example was sold, along with a licence to build 50 aircraft. These were designated PWS-A and put into service with the Polish Air Force in 1930.[1]
Development continued with an almost total redesign of the fuselage, replacing the wooden, slab-sided structure with one of oval cross-section, built up from welded steel tubes. Designated BH-33E, this was a world-class fighter for its time. Nevertheless, the response from the Czechoslovakian military was lukewarm (although two were bought for the national aerobatics team), and Avia again looked abroad for customers, this time selling 20 aircraft to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, along with a licence to produce another 24. Two or three examples were also bought by Soviet Union for evaluation.[2]
In late 1929, a further development was flown as the BH-33L, featuring longer-span wings, and a Škoda L W-block engine. This version finally brought the company the domestic sales that it had been hoping for, with 80 aircraft ordered by the Czechoslovak Air Force. These became standard equipment with some air regiments up to the outbreak of World War II.[3]
A single, final variant with a BMW-built Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine was built as the BH-33H (later redesignation BH-133) in 1930, but this did not lead to production.
Operational historyedit
The planes were used by Spanish Republican Air Force during Spanish-Civil War.[4] Czechoslovakian BH-33s never saw combat, and Poland's examples had long been replaced in service by the time of the German invasion. Two Yugoslavian machines did, however see combat against LuftwaffeMesserschmitt Bf 109s, but were both destroyed and their pilots killed.
Variantsedit
BH-33
First prototype.
BH-33-1
Two prototypes powered by Jupiter VI (second) and Jupiter VII (third) engines plus five serial built aircraft with Jupiter VII engine.
BH-33E
Rebuilt fuselage
BH-33E-SHS
Yugoslav Version powered by IAM K9 engine, 22 built.[5]
BH-33L
Version with longer-span wings, powered by a Škoda L engine, 80 built.
Kopański, Tomasz J.; Belcarz, Bartłomiej (2005). Avia BH 33 (PWS A), PWS 10, PZL P.7a (in Czech). Sandomierz: Wydawnictwo Stratus. ISBN83-89450-36-4.
Němeček, Vaclav (1968). Československá letadla (in Czech). Praha: Naše Vojsko.
Taylor, John W. R.; Alexander, Jean; et al. (1969). Combat aircraft of the world. London: Ebury P.; Michael Joseph. p. 58. ISBN0-71810-564-8.
Taylor, Michael J.H.; Gunston, Bill; et al. (1989). Jane's encyclopedia of aviation. New York: Portland House. ISBN0-517-69186-8.
Wauthy, Jean-Luc & de Neve, Florian (June 1995). "Les aéronefs de la Force Aérienne Belge, deuxième partie 1919–1935" [Aircraft of the Belgian Air Force]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (305): 28–33. ISSN 0757-4169.
Further readingedit
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 889 Sheet 86.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avia BH-33.
airwar.ru (in Russian)
January 01, 1970
avia, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, july, 2010, learn, when, remove, this, message, biplane, fighter, aircra. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message The Avia BH 33 was a biplane fighter aircraft built in Czechoslovakia in 1927 It was based on the BH 21J which demonstrated promising results by combining the original BH 21 airframe with a licence built Bristol Jupiter radial engine Other than the peculiar Avia hallmark of having an upper wing with a shorter span than the lower it was utterly conventional even featuring a tail fin for the first time in a Pavel Benes and Miroslav Hajn design previous aircraft had a rudder but no fin BH 33 Role Fighter Manufacturer Avia PWS under licence Ikarus under licence Designer Miroslav Hajn and Pavel Benes First flight 21 October 1927 Primary users Czechoslovak Air ForcePolish Air ForceYugoslav Royal Air Force Produced Ca 110 plus 50 licence built in Poland and 22 in Yugoslavia Developed from Avia BH 21 Avia BH 33 with engine Walter Jupiter 480 600 HP Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications BH 33L 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Bibliography 8 Further reading 9 External linksDesign and development editInitial tests of the first prototype were disappointing displaying performance only marginally better than the BH 21 even when fitted with a more powerful version of the Jupiter Two further prototypes followed both designated BH 33 1 each with an increasingly powerful Jupiter variant one a Jupiter VI the other a Jupiter VII The performance of the latter example was finally acceptable for the Czechoslovakian defence ministry to order a small production run of only five aircraft Three examples were sold to Belgium where there were plans to build the type under licence but this did not occur Licence production was undertaken however in Poland where a single example was sold along with a licence to build 50 aircraft These were designated PWS A and put into service with the Polish Air Force in 1930 1 Development continued with an almost total redesign of the fuselage replacing the wooden slab sided structure with one of oval cross section built up from welded steel tubes Designated BH 33E this was a world class fighter for its time Nevertheless the response from the Czechoslovakian military was lukewarm although two were bought for the national aerobatics team and Avia again looked abroad for customers this time selling 20 aircraft to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia along with a licence to produce another 24 Two or three examples were also bought by Soviet Union for evaluation 2 In late 1929 a further development was flown as the BH 33L featuring longer span wings and a Skoda L W block engine This version finally brought the company the domestic sales that it had been hoping for with 80 aircraft ordered by the Czechoslovak Air Force These became standard equipment with some air regiments up to the outbreak of World War II 3 A single final variant with a BMW built Pratt amp Whitney Hornet engine was built as the BH 33H later redesignation BH 133 in 1930 but this did not lead to production Operational history editThe planes were used by Spanish Republican Air Force during Spanish Civil War 4 Czechoslovakian BH 33s never saw combat and Poland s examples had long been replaced in service by the time of the German invasion Two Yugoslavian machines did however see combat against Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109s but were both destroyed and their pilots killed Variants editBH 33 First prototype BH 33 1 Two prototypes powered by Jupiter VI second and Jupiter VII third engines plus five serial built aircraft with Jupiter VII engine BH 33E Rebuilt fuselage BH 33E SHS Yugoslav Version powered by IAM K9 engine 22 built 5 BH 33L Version with longer span wings powered by a Skoda L engine 80 built BH 33H BH 133 Version powered by Pratt amp Whitney Hornet engine one built P W S A Polish license built variant of the BH 33 with minor modifications 1 50 built between 1929 and 1932 Operators edit nbsp Belgium Belgian Air Force received three BH 33 1 aircraft nbsp Independent State of Croatia Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia nbsp Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakian Air Force Czechoslovakian National Security Guard nbsp Greece Hellenic Air Force acquired five Yugoslav produced BH 33s during the 1935 coup when Greece was a republic nbsp Poland Polish Air Force received one BH 33 and 50 PWS A license built variant nbsp Slovakia Slovak Air Force 1939 45 nbsp Soviet Union Soviet Air Force bought two or three BH 33Es for tests nbsp Spanish Republic Spanish Republican Air Force nbsp Yugoslavia Yugoslav Royal Air ForceSpecifications BH 33L edit nbsp Avia BH 33 Data from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 6 Combat aircraft of the world 7 General characteristicsCrew one pilot Length 7 22 m 23 ft 8 in Wingspan 8 90 m 29 ft 2 in Height 3 13 m 10 ft 3 in Wing area 25 5 m2 274 sq ft Empty weight 1 117 kg 2 463 lb Gross weight 1 560 kg 3 439 lb Powerplant 1 Skoda L 430 kW 580 hp Performance Maximum speed 298 km h 186 mph 162 kn Cruise speed 280 km h 174 mph 151 kn Range 450 km 280 mi 240 nmi Service ceiling 8 000 m 26 247 ft Rate of climb 9 9 m s 1 940 ft min Armament 2 fixed forward firing 7 7 mm 303 in Vickers machine guns 2 fixed forward firing 7 92mm vz 28 machine gun 8 See also edit nbsp Aviation portal Related development BH 17 BH 21 BH 22 BH 23 Related lists List of Interwar military aircraftReferences edit a b Belcarz 2005 p 6 Taylor 1989 p 86 Taylor and Alexander 1969 p 58 Spanish Civil War Aircraft www zi ku dk Archived from the original on 5 February 2015 Retrieved 1 August 2022 Avia BH 33 Archived from the original on 2014 04 07 Retrieved 2014 04 07 Grey C G ed 1928 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd p 77c Taylor John W R Alexander Jean et al 1969 Combat aircraft of the world London Ebury P Michael Joseph p 58 ISBN 0 71810 564 8 Avia BH 33 Bibliography edit Kopanski Tomasz J Belcarz Bartlomiej 2005 Avia BH 33 PWS A PWS 10 PZL P 7a in Czech Sandomierz Wydawnictwo Stratus ISBN 83 89450 36 4 Nemecek Vaclav 1968 Ceskoslovenska letadla in Czech Praha Nase Vojsko Taylor John W R Alexander Jean et al 1969 Combat aircraft of the world London Ebury P Michael Joseph p 58 ISBN 0 71810 564 8 Taylor Michael J H Gunston Bill et al 1989 Jane s encyclopedia of aviation New York Portland House ISBN 0 517 69186 8 Wauthy Jean Luc amp de Neve Florian June 1995 Les aeronefs de la Force Aerienne Belge deuxieme partie 1919 1935 Aircraft of the Belgian Air Force Le Fana de l Aviation in French 305 28 33 ISSN 0757 4169 Further reading editWorld Aircraft Information Files London Bright Star Publishing File 889 Sheet 86 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avia BH 33 airwar ru in Russian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avia BH 33 amp oldid 1119849089, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
