Beneš-Mráz Be-56 Beta-Major

The Beneš-Mráz Be-56 Beta-Major was a single-seat aerobatic advanced trainer manufactured in Czechoslovakia shortly before World War II.

Be-56 Beta-Major
Be-56 Beta-major single-seater
Role Sports plane
Manufacturer Beneš-Mráz
Designer Pavel Beneš and Jaroslav Mráz
First flight 20 July 1936
Number built 1 x Be-52; 1 x Be-56
Developed from Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor

Design and development

First flown in 1936, the Be-56 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of wooden construction, with a single open cockpit and fixed tailwheel undercarriage. A two-seat version was produced as the Beneš-Mráz Be-52 Beta-Major, with tandem open cockpits

Variants
Be-52 Beta-Major
Two-seat aerobatic trainer derived from the Be-51, but powered by a Walter Major engine; one built.
Be-56 Beta-Major
Single-seat version of the Be-52; one built (OK-BEG).
Be-52 Beta-Major two-seater

Operational history

The sole Be-56, registered OK-BEG, was used by the Slovak Air Force after the German takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1939.

Operators
 Slovakia

Specifications (Be-56)

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1937[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 7.55 m (24 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.66 m (35 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 14.00 m2 (150.7 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 530 kg (1,168 lb)
Empty weight Be-52: 550 kg (1,210 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 710 kg (1,565 lb)
Max Take-off weight Be-52: 820 kg (1,810 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 100 l (26 US gal; 22 imp gal) in two wing root tanks
  • Powerplant: 1 × Walter Major 4-cyl. inverted air-cooled in-line piston engine, 97 kW (130 hp) for take-off
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn) at sea level
Max speed Be-52: 235 km/h (146 mph; 127 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn)
Cruise speed Be-52: 200 km/h (120 mph; 110 kn)
  • Landing speed: 58 km/h (36 mph; 31 kn)
  • Landing speed Be-52: 62 km/h (39 mph; 33 kn)
  • Range: 600 km (370 mi, 320 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
Absolute ceiling: 6,500 m (21,300 ft)
Service ceiling Be-52: 5,200 m (17,100 ft)
Absolute ceiling Be-52: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Time to altitude:
1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 3 minutes
3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 11 minutes 30 seconds
Be-52 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 4 minutes 20 seconds
Be-52 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 16 minutes
  • Wing loading: 50.7 kg/m2 (10.4 lb/sq ft)
Wing loading Be-52: 58.6 kg/m2 (12.0 lb/sq ft)
Power loading Be-52: 8.43 kg/kW (13.86 lb/hp)
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References
  1. Grey, C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1937). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1937. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 102c.

Further reading
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 152.
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 25.
  • Nemecek, Vaclav (1983). Československá letadla (in Czech). Prague: Nase vojsko.
  • Green, William (2010). Aircraft of the Third Reich (1st ed.). London: Aerospace Publishing Limited. p. 105. ISBN 978 1 900732 06 2.
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