The Letov Š-20 was a fighter aircraft produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1920s.
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Design and development.
The Letov Š-20 was a conventional, single-bay biplane with unstaggered wings, braced by N-struts. In overall appearance, it greatly resembled contemporary SPAD fighters. The fuselage and empennage were of welded steel tube construction and covered in fabric. The wings had a tubular metal spar but were otherwise wooden, and also fabric-covered.
The Czechoslovakian Air Force bought 105 machines, and ten examples were produced for Lithuania under the designation Š-20L. These remained in service until 1936 and 1935 respectively.
Operational history.
An Š-20 placed second in the single-engine category of the national President of the Republic air race in 1925, but fared better the following year. In the 1926 race, an Š-20 not only won this category, but also set a new national airspeed record of 234 km/h (146 mph). This record was short-lived, however, since the prize for the fastest circuit was also won in an Š-20, and this raised the record to 245 km/h (153 mph).
A single prototype of an unarmed advanced trainer version was built as the Š-21, but this did not sell.
Specifications (Š-20).
"Data from" Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928General characteristics* Crew: 1* Aspect ratio: * Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propeller
Performance* Endurance: 2 hours 10 minutes* g limits: * Roll rate: * Time to altitude: in 13 minutes 40 seconds
Armament
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Related lists
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Notes
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