Letov S-20

Letov S-20
Country	Czechoslovakia
Type	Fighter
First flight	1925
Built	118

The Letov Š-20 was a fighter aircraft produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1920s. 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

Source: Wikipedia

Letov S-20 Walk Around
Photographer	Pavel Senk
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	26

Letov S-20 1

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Letov S-20 10

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General Characteristics

The Letov Š-20 was a Czechoslovak single-seat fighter biplane designed by Alois Šmolík in the mid-1920s. It was a standard fighter aircraft of the Czechoslovak Air Force during that period, replacing earlier French-designed fighters and marking a significant step in the nation’s domestic military aviation development. It was characterized by its clean design, which resembled contemporary SPAD fighters, and its solid performance for the era.

Property	Typical Value (Š-20 / Š-20M)
Role	Single-Seat Fighter
Manufacturer	Letov Kbely (Czechoslovakia)
First Flight	1925
No. Built	Approximately 115–120 (for Czechoslovakia and Lithuania)
Crew	1 (Pilot)
Length	7.44 m (24 ft 5 in)
Wingspan	9.70 m (31 ft 10 in)
Wing Area	18.4 m² (198 sq ft)
Max Takeoff Weight	1,050 kg (2,315 lb)

Design and Powerplant

Engine: One Škoda-built Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 water-cooled piston engine.
Power Output: Approximately 221 kW (300 hp).
Construction: The fuselage and empennage were constructed from welded steel tubes covered in fabric. The wings used tubular metal spars with wooden ribs and were fabric-covered.
Configuration: Conventional single-bay biplane with fixed landing gear. The main production variant, the Š-20M, featured improved aerodynamics, particularly a slimmer rear fuselage.
Fuel: The main fuel tank was located in the fuselage behind the engine, with a gravity feed service tank in the upper wing.

⚡ Performance and Armament

Maximum Speed: Up to 257.5 km/h (160 mph, 139 knots).
Cruise Speed: Approximately 225 km/h (140 mph, 122 knots).
Service Ceiling: 7,250 m (23,790 ft).
Range: 528 km (328 mi, 285 nmi).
Time to Altitude: 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 13 minutes 40 seconds.
Fixed Armament: Two fixed, forward-firing, synchronized 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine guns (ZB vz.09) mounted in the forward fuselage upper decking above the engine.
Notable Variant: The Š-20J variant was fitted with a more powerful Walter Jupiter IV radial engine (430-480 hp), achieving a Czechoslovak altitude record of 8,700 m (28,500 ft).