Aero Ab-101

Version Ab-101: - light bomber biplane - origin: Czechoslovakia - built: 1936 - wingspan/length/height: 17,00 / 12,53 / 3,90 m - wing area: 58,50 m2 - take-off weight: 4200 kg - range: 950 km - ceiling: 7500 m - powerplant ČKD-Praga HS 12 Ydrs with max. output 860 HP - airspeed maximum: 260 km/h - amrament: fixed synchronized machine gun vz.28 or vz.30 on the port side of the fuselage behind the engine and moveable double machine gun vz.30 in the second post - ability to carry 1 x 50 kg or 4 x 25 kg of bombs in the fuselage bomb bay, below the central part of wing and fuselage were 4 bomb racks for 50 up to 200 kg bombs and below the lower wing were 12 bomb racks for 10 up to 20 kg bombs

   Aero Ab-101 was most numerous middle bomber airplane in the Czechoslovak Air Force at the end of thirties. It was built as the replacement for out dated Š-16 and A-30/230. The construction of Aero A-101 came from the approved A-100, the fuselage was from tubes covered by fabric like wooden wings. Bombs were carried in the fuselage bomb bay and on the bomb racks below the wings and fuselage. Bombardier also performed the rear gunner and he used the moveable machine gun vz.30. Prototype made its first flight at the end of 1934 year. There were ordered and delivered 29 machines A-101 of the series production with ČKD-Praga Asso powerplant with output 800 HP. Otherwise they reliable served in Czechoslovak Air Force it was obvious that on account of the heavy and out-dated engines they was not a big worth. That is why all machines were sold to the Spain through the Estonia (28 planes).
   Already in the 1935 was given the request for the mounting the ČKD-Praga Hispano Suiza 12 Ydrs powerplant with output 860 HP. Prototype Ab-101 did the first flight in early spring of 1936. Testing of the prototype was followed with many minor problems and aircraft again became out-of-date. In the time of series production of 24 planes (in January 1938) were immediately taken by military administration but version Ab-101 in despite of more up to date engine did not improve performance of the ancestoral A-101 and it implied the big disappointment. Because there was no alternative (czechoslovak firms were not able to construct other aircraft in the same category in the acceptable time), it was ordered another series of 40 machines. They showed besides the grotty performances also the low resistance to the service in the battlefield. After the Munich diktat were replaced by franchising planes Avia B-71.

Ab-101 In Slovak Air Arms service

   There was only one plane Aero Ab-101 in Slovakia. It became to flight 76 of air reginemt 5 and on 4.3.1939 it made a flight to the Piešťany. It remained unremembered in the hangar till the 7.6.1939. On this day pilot Jozef Hrala and mechanic Ľudovít Ivanič escaped to the Poland. Also 3 other planes Letov Š-328 escaped. At first Ab-101 landed in Krakow and later it got to the Deblin where landed remaining 3 aircraft Š-328 from the same group. After the invasion of the Germany to the Poland plane stayed on the airfield and so it soon fall into the hands of german army.

The original camouflage of pre-war Czechoslovak Air Force remained on this plane - khaki on top and flat silver on bottom. The same was for the national insignia, because the new Slovak insignia were started to apply after the end of June 1939.

Table of inherited Ab-101

Photoarchive: