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Praga Early Projects
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Or Aero A.52,it is in the museum (NTM Archive).
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I think that the right design,which was involved,not A.51.
Pilatus also proposed a similar engine configuration for a twin-engined version of the PC-6 Porter. It never made it to production.
Hi,
this drawing does not correspond to the actual design of the B-45 (BH-45). Mr Němeček drew it according to the memories of the designer Benes. This is the correct drawing: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/praga-early-projects.31893/post-623550
this drawing does not correspond to the actual design of the B-45 (BH-45). Mr Němeček drew it according to the memories of the designer Benes. This is the correct drawing: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/praga-early-projects.31893/post-623550
Tonton-42
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Pilatus Parasol Twin Porter (not realised).
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From old site on Net,
in
the first half of the 1930s, four Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturers—Aero, Avia, Letov, and ČKD-Praga (ČKD = Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk)—engaged in fierce, multi-stage competition to secure a contract from the Ministry of National Defence (MNO) for a new fighter aircraft for the Air Force. Ultimately, on June 6, 1934, Avia's B-534 emerged victorious, a significant development of the earlier B-34 model. It subsequently became standard equipment for ČSVL fighter squadrons. Letov also received a consolation prize of an order for a small number of its Š-231 fighter. However, the A-102s and the BH-44s (also known by the military designation E-44) designed by Aero remained only as prototypes.
Despite this setback, designers Pavel Benes and Miroslav Hajn of ČKD-Praga continued to improve their aircraft's performance, building or designing subsequent versions of the BH-144, BH-244, and BH-344, powered by more powerful engines. Simultaneously, engineer Jaroslav Šlechta also began work on a new fighter aircraft, marking his first independent project at the Praga plant (engineer Hajn left the factory around the same time, followed shortly thereafter by Benes). The main idea behind all this work was to create an aircraft that could effectively compete with the Avia B-534. Designated by Šlechta as the E-45 , the aircraft was a very elegant biplane with an open cockpit and fixed landing gear. The aircraft featured the then-classic mixed metal and wood construction, covered primarily with plywood and fabric. The fuselage was constructed of a steel tubing truss, covered with plywood and sheet metal in the front section, while the elliptical wings were of wooden construction covered with fabric. The main landing gear wheels were covered with fairings. Powering the aircraft was a 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce "Kestrel" inline engine purchased from Great Britain, with which Praga hoped to outperform its rival, Avia, which also used license-built 12-cylinder Hispano-Suiza HS-12 series inline engines in its latest designs.
The E-45 prototype, whose construction began in March 1934, featured a Kestrel VI engine with a maximum power output of 710 hp. The aircraft first flew on October 8th of the same year, piloted by the Smetana factory's chief test pilot. The aircraft was armed with two 7.92 mm Model 30 machine guns, one on each side of the fuselage. During trials, the Praga E-45 fighter demonstrated excellent maneuverability and ease of handling, while also exhibiting high flight stability, which greatly facilitated accurate fire. However, the aircraft arrived too late – in July 1934, the MNO signed a contract with Avia for the construction of the first 34 B-534s, and therefore further work on the E-45 was abandoned. The E-45 project, like the E-44, remained solely as a reserve in case of any failure in B-534 production, which, as it turned out, never happened. For several years, the sole E-45 prototype remained unused until it was purchased in April 1938 by the Ministry of Public Works (MVP) where it received the civilian registration OK-ERR.
After the MNO abandoned the E-45, engineer Šlechta developed a preliminary design for a long-range development version, designated the E-451. The new aircraft was to be a cantilever, low-wing monoplane with an enclosed cockpit, retaining the E-45's engine and fixed landing gear with a tail skid. However, this project was not continued, as failures with the E-44 and E-45 fighters and the E-36 light bomber (it lost the competition to the competing Aero A-100), as well as the departure of designers Benes and Hajn, left ČKD-Praga almost bankrupt in the second half of 1934. There were even plans to completely liquidate aircraft production and focus solely on servicing existing aircraft. However, engineer Šlechta's next design – the E-46, a light, single-engine trainer and sports aircraft, later developed into the E-114 – proved a resounding success.
in
the first half of the 1930s, four Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturers—Aero, Avia, Letov, and ČKD-Praga (ČKD = Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk)—engaged in fierce, multi-stage competition to secure a contract from the Ministry of National Defence (MNO) for a new fighter aircraft for the Air Force. Ultimately, on June 6, 1934, Avia's B-534 emerged victorious, a significant development of the earlier B-34 model. It subsequently became standard equipment for ČSVL fighter squadrons. Letov also received a consolation prize of an order for a small number of its Š-231 fighter. However, the A-102s and the BH-44s (also known by the military designation E-44) designed by Aero remained only as prototypes.
Despite this setback, designers Pavel Benes and Miroslav Hajn of ČKD-Praga continued to improve their aircraft's performance, building or designing subsequent versions of the BH-144, BH-244, and BH-344, powered by more powerful engines. Simultaneously, engineer Jaroslav Šlechta also began work on a new fighter aircraft, marking his first independent project at the Praga plant (engineer Hajn left the factory around the same time, followed shortly thereafter by Benes). The main idea behind all this work was to create an aircraft that could effectively compete with the Avia B-534. Designated by Šlechta as the E-45 , the aircraft was a very elegant biplane with an open cockpit and fixed landing gear. The aircraft featured the then-classic mixed metal and wood construction, covered primarily with plywood and fabric. The fuselage was constructed of a steel tubing truss, covered with plywood and sheet metal in the front section, while the elliptical wings were of wooden construction covered with fabric. The main landing gear wheels were covered with fairings. Powering the aircraft was a 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce "Kestrel" inline engine purchased from Great Britain, with which Praga hoped to outperform its rival, Avia, which also used license-built 12-cylinder Hispano-Suiza HS-12 series inline engines in its latest designs.
The E-45 prototype, whose construction began in March 1934, featured a Kestrel VI engine with a maximum power output of 710 hp. The aircraft first flew on October 8th of the same year, piloted by the Smetana factory's chief test pilot. The aircraft was armed with two 7.92 mm Model 30 machine guns, one on each side of the fuselage. During trials, the Praga E-45 fighter demonstrated excellent maneuverability and ease of handling, while also exhibiting high flight stability, which greatly facilitated accurate fire. However, the aircraft arrived too late – in July 1934, the MNO signed a contract with Avia for the construction of the first 34 B-534s, and therefore further work on the E-45 was abandoned. The E-45 project, like the E-44, remained solely as a reserve in case of any failure in B-534 production, which, as it turned out, never happened. For several years, the sole E-45 prototype remained unused until it was purchased in April 1938 by the Ministry of Public Works (MVP) where it received the civilian registration OK-ERR.
After the MNO abandoned the E-45, engineer Šlechta developed a preliminary design for a long-range development version, designated the E-451. The new aircraft was to be a cantilever, low-wing monoplane with an enclosed cockpit, retaining the E-45's engine and fixed landing gear with a tail skid. However, this project was not continued, as failures with the E-44 and E-45 fighters and the E-36 light bomber (it lost the competition to the competing Aero A-100), as well as the departure of designers Benes and Hajn, left ČKD-Praga almost bankrupt in the second half of 1934. There were even plans to completely liquidate aircraft production and focus solely on servicing existing aircraft. However, engineer Šlechta's next design – the E-46, a light, single-engine trainer and sports aircraft, later developed into the E-114 – proved a resounding success.
