Avia B.135

[GregP]

Anyone know any information abiout the Avia B.135 other than the obvious?

It performed right with the early Bf 109 and Spitfire I's (slightly better, I believe), and seemed to be a real candidate for future development, but it died away with fewer than 50 units made. Some survived WWII and served into the late 1940's, but I never heard of any further development.

Have you?

[tenmmike]

my info differs from yours, but so little i hesitate to post it but here it goes.... here is what i have... Flight trials began in 1940 and resulted in a Bulgarian order for 12 machines as well as a license for the type to be constructed by the Bulgarian State Aircraft Works. The aircraft were delivered in early 1943 and remained in service throughout most of Bulgaria’s involvement in World War 2, but no license production was undertaken....On 30 march 1944 several Fighter School instructors managed to bring down a four-engine B-24 Liberator with their 7.92mm MG.Bulgarian planes dont have the 20mm canon...the Czech as far as i can see did not use this aircraft as the germans converted the factory to 109 production...


Specifications:
Powerplant: Avia (Hispano Suiza) 860 hp 12Ycrs inverted Vee piston engine.
Maximum speed: 332 mph at optimum altitude.
Cruising speed: 286 mph at optimum altitude.
Range: 342 miles.
Service ceiling: 27,890 ft.
Armament: One 20mm cannon firing through propeller hub, 2 7.92mm machine guns in upper fuselage; up to 485 pounds of bombs on two hardpoints beneath the wings.
Specifications aircraft type- Avia B.135B
Manif. nation- Chehoslovakia
# prod/purchaced- 12
Crew #- 1
Engine type/h.p.- HS-12Y/890
Lenght- 8.55
Span- 10.85
Wing area - 17
Gross weight - 2450
Speed- 535 km/h
Ceiling- 9000 m
Range- 500km
Armament- 2X7.92mm
Purpose- fighter
Configuration- monoplane
First flown in
Bulgaria- 1943

[GregP]

Yeah, I had that information, too. But I also have info that the B.135 was better than the early Bf 109 and equal to the Spitfire I. So, I wondered why it didn't get developed ... that's all.

Looks like a good aircraft, but why would it be better than all the other fighter-wannabes of the time? I can't say.

Seems like the B.135 and the IAR 80 / 81 were much better than everyone thought, at least from the outside looking in, at the time.

[tenmmike]

well i read the part about competing with the mk1 and early 109 ..im not sure im going for it ,but anyway the .135 was not ready for deliery until early 43 that makes it way behind the later 109/spit...... the Czech developed it but there was no need to further develop it as they were getting and making 109... the bulgarians kinda same boat once they got it there was no reason to futhur develop it they had 109 ..so relegated to training status why wast manufactuing capacity if ya dont need to?.......greg..check yer mail

[Corsarius]

I rather like the Avia products, even the biplane fighters had some very nice lines. From my 'big book of fighters' the B.135 went pretty much straight to a training command of the Bulgarian air force, but were used as defence at some point in time. I don't know why they didn't go direct to the front, though, as all reports seem to indicate it was a pleasant machine with few vices, and a fair armament.

I'll check it out when I get home and give what I have.

[Corsarius]

OK. Here's a synopsis of what I've got.

The Avia B.135 was designed specifically for bulgaria. A contract was placed with Avia for 12 av135 fighters for final assembly at lovech, in central Bulgaria, where a further 50 were to be license built. The dozen avia-built versions were delivered in summer 1942, but only 35 of the 62 HS12Ycrs engines reached bulgaria and the programme cancelled. The Avia fighters went to a fighter pilot school, but did see action in 1944.

Powered by HS12Ycrs engine rated at 860hp at 13,125 feet and 800hp at sea level.

Armament 1*20mm 2*7,92mm guns.

Max speed 332mph (535kph) at 13125ft (4000m)
Max initial climb 2638ft/min (13.4 m/sec)
Max range 584mls (940km)
Empty equipped weight, 4548lb (2547kg)
Max loaded weight, 5615lb (2547kg)
Span 35ft 7 1/8 in (10.85m)
length 27ft 10 2/3 in (8.50m)
Height 8ft 6 1/3in (2.60m)
Wing Area 182.99 sq ft (17.0 M^2)