Letov Š-4

Infobox Aircraft
name = Letov Š-4
type = fighter
manufacturer = Letov Kbely


caption =
designer =
first flight = avyear|1922
introduced = avyear|1923
retired = avyear|1928
status =
primary user = Czechoslovak Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built =20
unit cost =
variants with their own articles =

The Letov Š-4 was a Czechoslovak single-bay unstaggared biplane fighter and trainer in the 1920s.

Production History

The Š-4 was first created in 1922 as an intended successor to the SPAD S.VII and XIII in service with the newly-created Czechoslovak Air Force. It first flew in 1922, with fabric-covered wooden wings and a metal fuselage and tail.

Operational History

The Czechoslovak Air Force ordered 20 Š-4s in 1922 and these were delivered in early 1923. The plane lived out the 1920s as a fighter and trainer, but by 1927 difficulties were being experienced due to the low manufacturing quality of the Š-4. As a result all remaining Š-4s were upgraded to [Letov Š-4a|Š-4a] trainer aircraft in 1928.

List of operators

; CZE

Specifications

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=One
span main=8.00 m
span alt=26 ft 2⅞ in
area main=16.43m²
area alt= 176.86 ft²
length main=6.58m
length alt=21 ft 7 in
height main=2.62m
height alt=8 ft 7⅛ in
empty weight main=673 kg
empty weight alt=1,484 lb
loaded weight main=980 kg
loaded weight alt=2,160 lb
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=Hispano-Suiza 8Ba
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=164 kW
power alt=220 hp
max speed main=232 km/h
max speed alt=144 mph
max speed more=
range main= 500km
range alt= 310 miles
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
*Time to 3,000m : 9.3 minutes
guns=2 x synchronised 7.7mm Vickers gun

Bibliography

* William Green and Gordon Swanborough. "The Complete Book of Fighters". Colour Library Direct, Godalming, UK: 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.