Avia BH-9

BH-9
Role	Sports plane
Manufacturer	Avia
Designer	Pavel Beneš and Miroslav Hajn
Introduction	1923
Number built	11

The Avia BH-9 was a one-seat sport aircraft built in Czechoslovakia in 1923, based on the BH-5. As with other developments in the BH-1 lineage, the BH-9 was a low-wing braced monoplane that accommodated the pilot and passenger in tandem, open cockpits. The BH-9's structure was strengthened to allow for the use of a higher-power engine than in its predecessors, and for the first time, this was a domestically-produced powerplant.

The Czechoslovakian Army showed interest in it as a trainer and liaison aircraft, and ordered 10 examples under the designation B.9.

A B.9 won the 1925 Coppa d'Italia air race, and the following year, one was flown on a 1,800 km (1,100 mi) circuit Prague-Paris-Prague with an average speed of 131.2 km/h (82 mph).

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 6.64 m (21 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 9.72 m (31 ft 11 in)
• Height: 2.53 m (8 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 13.6 m² (146 ft²)
• Empty weight: 345 kg (761 lb)
• Gross weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Walter NZ 60 radial, 45 kW (60 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 158 km/h (98 mph)
• Range: 470 km (290 miles)
• Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)

See also

Related development

BH-5 – BH-10 – BH-11 – BH-12

References

• 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.
• Němeček, V. (1968). Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.
• airwar.ru