Avia B 135 (Av 135)

1939

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Avia B 135 (Av 135)

Bulgarian evaluation pilots had flown the B 35.2 in November 1939, and, in June 1940, flew the B 35.3 alias Av 135.1. With the agreement of the RLM in Berlin, the development programme of the Avia fighter was permitted to continue in what by now was the so-called "Protectorate" of Bohemia-Moravia specifically for the Bulgarian Ministry of War. A contract was placed with Avia for 12 Av 135 fighters for final assembly at Lovech, in Central Bulgaria, where a further 50 were to be licence-built for the Royal Bulgarian Air Force as the DAR-11 Ljastuvka (Swallow). The dozen Avia-built Av 135 fighters were delivered in the summer of 1942, but only 35 of the 62 HS 12Ycrs engines intended for the licence-built aircraft reached Bulgaria and the licence construction programme was cancelled. The Av 135s were consigned to a Fighter Pilot School, but did see some operational use in 1944. The Av 135 was of similar construction to the B 35, was powered by an Avia-built Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs engine rated at 860hp at 4000m and 800hp at sea level, and carried an armament of one 20mm and two 7.92mm guns. It differed from the B 35.3 essentially in having shorter-span ailerons and enlarged flaps.

Specification 
 MODELAv-135
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x 850hp Avia (Hispano-Suiza) HS 12 Ydra
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight2422 kg5340 lb
  Empty weight1906 kg4202 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan10.85 m36 ft 7 in
  Length8.58 m28 ft 2 in
  Height2.59 m9 ft 6 in
  Wing area17.00 m2182.99 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed534 km/h332 mph
  Cruise speed462 km/h287 mph
  Ceiling9500 m31150 ft
  Rate of climb804 m/min2650 ft/min
  Range550 km342 miles
 ARMAMENT1 x 20mm, 2 x 7.92mm

Comments
lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 05:44

20

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Anonymous, 11.03.2021 19:11

Excellent fighter contemporary with, comparable to, the British Hawker Hurricane. Unfortunately, it appeared too late to do Czechoslovakia any good.

reply

Psellos, e-mail, 25.10.2010 01:34

Reportedly one american B-24 shot down by Bulgarian B 135 in 1944. Piloted by lt. Jordan Ferdinandov.

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