title: Letov Š-8
text: # Letov Š-8
  
  The Letov Š-8 was a Czech racing aircraft designed by Alois Šmolik. The aircraft was wooden-built, mostly fabric covered, with tail-skid undercarriage and was powered by a Napier Lion engine.
  
  ## Specifications
  
  Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Length: 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in)
  * Wingspan: 11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
  * Height: 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in)
  * Wing area: 16.5 $m^2$ (178 sq ft)
  * Empty weight: 1,030 kg (2,271 lb)
  * Gross weight: 1,230 kg (2,712 lb)
  * Powerplant: 1 × Napier Lion piston aero-engine, 340 kW (450 hp)
  
  Performance
  
  * Maximum speed: 360 km/h (220 mph, 190 kn)
  * Cruise speed: 330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn)
  * Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
  * Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
  * Wing loading: 74.8 $kg/m^2$ (15.3 lb/sq ft)
  * Power/mass: 0.2834 kW/kg (0.1724 hp/lb)
  