Aero A 18

Evolved from the Ae 04, the A18 was designed by Antonin Vlasak and Antonin Husnik to a Czechoslovak Army specification. Retaining the Walter-built 185hp BMW Ilia engine and armament of twin synchronised 7.92mm Vickers guns, the A18 also retained the mixed construction of the preceding fighter prototypes, but dispensed with the overhung upper wing ailerons in favour of ailerons inset flush with the wingtips, and also adopted tandem interplane struts. The A18 prototype was flown in March 1923, and a production series of 20 aircraft was ordered. The standard A18 was to establish three national altitude records, and the A18B and A18C were one-off high-speed examples which participated in the 1923 and 1924 national air races respectively.