Letov Š-50

Letov Š-50
Role	General-utility monoplane
National origin	Czechoslovakia
Manufacturer	Letov
First flight	1938
Number built	1

The Letov Š-50 was a 1930s prototype Czechoslovakian military general-purpose monoplane, designed and built by Letov.^[1]

Development

Letov Š.50.1, prototype, autumn 1938

The Š-50 was an all-metal twin-engined low mid-wing monoplane that first flew in 1938.^[1] It was powered by two 420 hp (313 kW) Avia Rk.17 radial engines.^[1] It had a fixed landing gear and twin fins and rudders. Following the German occupation, development was stopped.^[1]

Specifications

Data from Les Ailes, 1 December 1938^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: three: observer/radio operator/bombaimer/nose gunner, pilot and dorsal gunner
• Length: 12.60 m (41 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 17.30 m (56 ft 9 in)
• Height: 3.80 m (12 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 43 m² (460 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 2,475 kg (5,456 lb)
• Gross weight: 4,093 kg (9,024 lb) in bomber configuration
• Fuel capacity: 920 L (200 imp gal; 240 US gal)
• Powerplant: 2 × Avia Rk.17 nine-cylinder radial piston engine, 310 kW (420 hp) each
• Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton Standard metal, constant speed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 305 km/h (190 mph, 165 kn)
• Cruise speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
• Range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi) at crise spee, bomber configuration
• Service ceiling: 7,200 m (23,600 ft) practical
• Time to altitude: 7.5 min to 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
• Take-off and landing distances: 140 m (460 ft)

Armament

• 1 × fixed ZB vz.30
• 2 × flexible ZB vz.30
• up to 600 kg bombs

References

Notes

1. Orbis 1985, p. 2316
2. Les Ailes December 1938

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.

• Frachet, André (1 December 1938). "Le triplace d'observation Letov "S-20"". Les Ailes (911): 13.