Aero A.42

Aero A.42
Role	Bomber
Manufacturer	Aero
First flight	1929
Introduction	1930
Retired	1940
Status	Prototype
Primary user	Czechoslovak Air Force
Number built	2

The Aero A.42 was a Czechoslovakian bomber aircraft of 1929 that was only ever produced in prototype form. For its day, it was an advanced design, with a sleek monoplane configuration. However, the Czech Air Force was not satisfied with it for a number of reasons, in particular, the aircraft's take-off and landing rolls were felt to be excessively long, and crew complained about the cramped cabin. The air force suggested a set of modifications to Aero, including replacing the wooden wing with a metal one, but Aero discontinued development.

On September 20, 1930, one of the two prototypes set international speed records of 253.428 km/h over a 1,000 km (620 mi) closed circuit, carrying payloads of 500 kg (1,100 lb) and 1000 kg (2,200 lb).^[1]

One prototype was used by the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1938, then by the Slovak Air Force. Probably it was scrapped in 1940.^[2]

The A.42 was a single-engined high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed landing gear.

Specifications (A.42)

General characteristics

• Crew: three, pilot, observer/bombardier, radio operator/gunner
• Length: 13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 20.8 m (68 ft 3 in)
• Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 54 m² (580 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 2,940 kg (6,482 lb)
• Gross weight: 4,740 kg (10,450 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Isotta-Fraschini Asso 750 W-18 water-cooled piston engine, 597 kW (801 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 270 km/h (168 mph; 146 kn)
• Service ceiling: 7,000 m (22,966 ft)
• Rate of climb: 1.67 m/s (329 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 88 kg/m² (18 lb/sq ft)
• Power/mass: 0.080 kW/kg (0.08 hp/lb)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in ventral position
  • 1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in dorsal turret
• Bombs: 400 kg (882 lb) of small bombs

References

1. Flight OCTOBER 10, 1930
2. Aero A.42 at Ugolok Neba site

External links

• Photos and drawings of A.42 at Ugolok Neba