Aero A.300

The Aero A.300 was a Czechoslovak bomber aircraft that first flew in 1938 as a much refined development of the A.304 (despite what the numbering would suggest).

A.300
Aero A.300 in 1938
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Aero Vodochody
First flight 1938
Primary user Czechoslovak Air Force
Developed from Aero A.304

Designed by Aero as a replacement for the obsolete, locally-built Bloch MB.200 bombers Czechoslovak Air Force, the Aero A-304 transport/bomber formed the basis for its design. The new aircraft mounted Bristol Mercury IX radial engines rated at 610 kW/820 hp and carried three machine guns for defense. The A-300 was faster than any other Czechoslovakian aircraft in the inventory except for the Avia B-35 fighter. Despite showing much promise, development and production of the aircraft was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.

Aero A.300.1, prototype, Summer 1938

Operators
 Czechoslovakia
 Slovakia

Specifications (A.300)
Aero A.300 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile February 1939

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 19.2 m (63 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 45.4 m2 (489 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 3,955 kg (8,719 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,347 kg (9,583 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Mercury IX 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engines, 610 kW (820 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 456 km/h (283 mph, 246 kn)
  • Range: 2,200 km (1,400 mi, 1,200 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,800 ft)

Armament

  • Guns:
  • 1 × fixed forward-firing 7.92 mm vz.30 (Česká zbrojovka Strakonice) machine gun
  • 1 × 7.92 mm vz.30 machine gun in dorsal turret
  • 1 × 7.92 mm vz.30 machine gun in rearward-firing ventral position
  • Bombs: Up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
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