Avia BH-1

BH-1
Role	Sportsplane
Manufacturer	Avia
Designer	Pavel Beneš and Miroslav Hajn
First flight	13 October 1920
Number built	1 + 1 airworth replica

The Avia BH-1 was a two-seat sports plane built in Czechoslovakia in 1920. It was the first product of the Avia company, and it was originally designated BH-1 exp. The BH-1 was a low-wing braced monoplane of wooden construction, with tailskid undercarriage. Power was provided by a Daimler engine, which proved inadequate to fly the aircraft with both seats occupied.

Soon after its first flight, it was exhibited at the inaugural International Aviation Exhibition in Prague. Its reception there was so enthusiastic that Czechoslovakian president Tomáš Masaryk awarded Avia with a 100,000 CSK development grant.

The BH-1 was subsequently rebuilt with a Gnome Omega rotary engine and was finally able to fly with two people aboard. It was known as the BH-1 bis in this configuration, and in 1921 won the Czechoslovakian national cross-country rally with an average speed of 125 km/h (78 mph) over the 860 km (536 mi) course. The aircraft was damaged in a crash the following spring and was never repaired, having been surpassed by improved designs.

In 2004, Marcel Sezemský built a flying replica of the aircraft, powered by a Walter Mikron engine.

Specifications (BH-1 exp)

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger intended
• Length: 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 10.08 m (33 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 10.4 m² (112 ft²)
• Empty weight: 270 kg (595 lb)
• Gross weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Daimler motorcycle engine, 22 kW (29 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 137 km/h (85 mph)
• Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,483 ft)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avia BH-1.

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 86. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 889 Sheet 86. 
• vyrobce.cz