Letov Š-6

Š-6
Role	Bomber
National origin	Czechoslovakia
Manufacturer	Letov
First flight	1923
Number built	35

The Letov Š-6 was a bomber aircraft produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1920s. Derived from the Š-2, it was a large biplane of conventional design. The wing cellule was an all-new design with a thicker profile, and while it had been intended to build them with a metal structure, wood was used instead due to shortages. Performance during testing was so promising that in 1924 an Š-6 was used to set a new altitude record with a 500 kg payload, and (on another occasion) a national endurance record of 10 hrs 32 min.

The Š-6 enjoyed a long career in Czechoslovakian service, remaining in use until 1934. One example was given a civil registration (L-BORA) and evaluated as an airliner for the Prague-Gothenburg route, but nothing came of this.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 8.85 m (29 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 15.69 m (51 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 43.0 m² (462 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,152 kg (2,534 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,008 kg (4,417 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Maybach Mb.IV, 190 kW (260 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 186 km/h (116 mph)
• Range: 780 km (490 miles)
• Service ceiling: 6,250 m (20,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.6 m/s (520 ft/min)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 573.
• Němeček, Václav (1968). Československá letadla. Prague: Naše Vojsko.