Beneš-Mráz Be-150 Beta-Junior
| Be-150 Beta Junior | |
|---|---|
| Role | Light aerobatic trainer and racing aircraft |
| National origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Manufacturer | Beneš-Mráz (Pavel Beneš and Jaroslav Mráz) |
| Designer | Ing. Pavel Beneš |
| First flight | 5 January 1937[1] |
| Number built | 3[1] |
| Developed from | Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor |
The Beneš-Mráz Be-150 Beta-Junior was a light aerobatic trainer and racing aircraft, designed and built in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s.
Design and development
With the success of the Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor Beneš decided to produce a smaller version with better performance for sport flying. A major incentive was the availability of five spare 78 kW (105 hp) Walter Minor engines, which would imbue the Be-150 with much improved vertical performance compared to the Be-50.[1]
Beneš shortened the fuselage and fitted the short-span wings of the Be-52, retaining the open cockpits and fixed, trousered, tailwheel undercarriage of the Be-50.[1]
Operational history
The Be-150 was first flown on 5 January 1937, but was rejected by the MNO (a Czech sport aircraft association) and the three production aircraft were used for general flying club use and for air racing.[1]
Specifications (Be-150)
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 7.55 m (24 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 10.66 m (35 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 14 m2 (150 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 790 kg (1,742 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Walter Minor 4-cyl. Air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine, 78 kW (105 hp)
Performance
- Cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph; 100 kn)
- Range: 750 km (466 mi; 405 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,045 ft)