Avia
Encyclopedia
Avia is a Czech
aircraft
and automotive company notable for producing biplane
fighter aircraft
, especially the B-534
, and truck
s.
, Miroslav Hajn
, Jaroslav František Koch and Václav Malý in 1919 and became part of Škoda
in 1928. During the 1930s the factory became the biggest aircraft producer in Czechoslovakia
and moved to Letňany
. During World War II
Avia produced aircraft for the German
Luftwaffe
. After the war the company was nationalized
and became involved in the automotive industry. It manufactured aircraft up to 1963, then continued to make aircraft engines (producing only ropeller](aircraft)|]s from 1988) and targeted truck production. The company was split in 1992 into propeller and truck sections, both using the Avia brand.
Before the war the company produced civilian and military aircraft, including the Avia BH-1
, Avia BH-21
, Avia B-534
and Avia B-71 (Soviet license
d Tupolev SB
).
Avia had started building Messerschmitt Me 109G soon after WWII as the Avia S-99, but soon ran out of the 109's Daimler-Benz DB 605
engine.
Also during the war the Germans set up a number of assembly plants in Czechoslovakia for production of the Messerschmitt Me 262
, designated the Avia S-92. After the war the manufacturing infrastructure remained intact, so production could start up again for the new owners.
The first S-92 was assembled at Letňany Research Institute in 1945 with the airframes coming from Avia and the engines from the repair works in Malešice (the Junkers Jumo 004, now called the M-04). The S-92's first flight was on 27 September 1946, with Avia's chief pilot Antonin Kraus in control. That same year on December 10 the CS-92 took to the air for the first time.
Delivery of the first S-92 to the Czechoslovak Air Force was on 6 February 1948. Twelve were made in all, nine S-92 and three CS-92, equipping the 5th Fighter Flight, until they were grounded for use as instructional airframes in 1951.
By the time Yugoslavia
showed interest in buying the S-92, Avia was looking at closing down the production line to make way for newer up-to-date aircraft, and when Avia were given a license to make the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 15 Fagot
(they were already making the Yakovlev Yak 23 Flora
, as the S-101) the S-92 production lines were dismantled.
An Avia S-92 (A-1a) and Avia CS-92 (B-1a) can be seen at the Vojenské Muzeum, Kbely AB.
The Avia S-199
was a fighter aircraft built in Czechoslovakia after World War II using parts and plans left over from Luftwaffe aircraft production that had taken place in the country during the war. While a problematic aircraft, unpopular with its pilots, it achieved fame as the first fighter obtained by the Israeli Air Force
for use during the War of Independence
. Czechoslovak pilots nicknamed it Mezek ("Mule"), whilst in Israel it was known as the Messer ("knife"; it is a common mistake that it was nicknamed Sakeen; the official name was even different - Python).
The S-199 continued to use the Me 109G airframe, but with none of the original engines available, the engine (Junkers Jumo 211
) and propeller from the Heinkel He 111
bomber were used instead. The result of this compromise was an aircraft with poor handling qualities. The substitute engine lacked the responsiveness of the Daimler-Benz unit, was heavier, and the torque created by the massive paddle-bladed propeller made control difficult. This latter flaw, combined with the 109's narrow-track undercarriage
also made landings and take-offs more hazardous. A final hidden danger lay in the synchronization gear
which did not seem to work properly, leading a few Israeli aircraft to shoot off their own propellers.
Later produced Avia B-33 (licensed Ilyushin Il-10
) or Avia 14 (licensed Ilyushin Il-14
), that airliner
version (able to carry 42 passengers) became the largest aircraft ever produced in Czechoslovakia.
motorcycle engine
, but it was a completely different development. The engine produced 15 PS. Two examples of this car still survive, at least one of which is a monoposto streamliner.
Soon after the War, the manufacture of fuel injection pumps, jets and roller bearings for freight vehicle transport was implemented in AVIA. The factory also provided repair of trucks. In frame of the Czechoslovak industry post-war reorganization it was subsequently decided that AVIA would be fully transformed into the manufacture of new trucks. As early as 1946 a prototype of the Škoda R-706 vehicle was developed, and the first vehicle and bus series was manufactured in 1947. These products were successfully exported to many countries
First of all, the enterprise concentrated on assembling T-805 vehicles. In 1961, it switched to the manufacture of Praga V3S/ S5T, the medium duty truck. The legendary three-tone off-road V3S was maintained in AVIA's manufacturing program until 1988. The vehicle was manufactured not only as a platform car but with different types of bodies as well. It fully utilised its construction designed for extraordinarily heavy use in the army, on site, in forest as well as in any other operation demanding a high performance under the heaviest conditions. The modifications of the Praga S5T model also included a semitrailer truck, S5T-TN model with a “ trambus” cabin. In 1963, manufacture of chassis units for the OT 64 (SKOT) armoured carrier was launched. Praga and Tatra enterprises, but also some Polish manufacturers participated on the manufacture.
In 1965, structural changes of demand concerning a small tonnage lorry appeared both in national and international market. At the AVIA enterprise, they were considering two ways ahead, i.e. own development and/or use of a suitable licence strategy. As a conclusion, the French Renault
-Saviem
manufacturer’s offer for two types of trucks was accepted. In the autumn of 1968, the first products started to leave the assembly line. The larger vehicle was named Renault-Saviem SG 4 Super Galion (later AVIA A30), and the smaller was named SG 2 Super Goelette (later AVIA A15). The new manufacture as well as its scope required new buildings as well as modernization of existing enterprise’s premises. New big buildings containing advanced equipment were constructed and thus AVIA was included among the largest Czechoslovak car manufacturers. The yearly production reached 17,000 vehicles. During the years, the manufacture of the AVIA vehicles was continuously modernized. The volume of the Diesel engine increased from original 3.32 up to 3.61, and practically all vehicle units were adapted. In 1983, the AVIA A31 developed from the AVIA A30 model, while the AVIA A15 (later A20) furgon was transferred to the AVIA A 21 model. From 1974 to 1978, modernization of A20, 30, and 40 models was prepared, bringing small wheels, redesigned axles, new dashboard, enhanced cab interior, etc.
In 1986, the AVIA National Concern comprising also affiliates in Brno, Ivančice and Žilina was incorporated in a so-called “Industry Economical Unit” together with Praga, BSS, Metaz and Kutná Hora enterprises. As per 1st July 1988, a new state enterprise, AVIA Concern, comprising Avia, Praga, BSS, and Dačické strojírny concern enterprises was established in accordance with the State Enterprise Act. AVIA Letňany as the parent factory manufactured engines and cabs and assembled all of the chassis. A part of the chassis was fitted with a platform-type superstructure and also vehicles with a furgon-type body were manufactured here. The Brno, Ivančice and Žilina factories purpose superstructures were assembled on the chassis. The Kutná Hora factory manufactured all types of axles for AVIA vehicles. The key assortment of Praga Concern Enterprise included truck and bus gear units and a number of other parts for the automotive field. The Dačické strojírny Concern Enterprise produced parts for our car manufacturers. The body assortment was still growing: box bodies, isothermic box bodies, bodies including a cooling unit, assembly platforms, container bodies, dumpers, towing trucks, and other different bodies were manufactured. The AVIA chassis also served as a base for the small buses manufactured in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Hungary.
In 1989, the concern split in single businesses. In the same year, AVIA Letňany launched assembly of A21 FC furgons by use of pressed parts. In 1993, manufacture of AVIA vehicles equipped with turbo engines designated as A21T and A31T was launched. At the same time, the engine power of these vehicles was increased up to 65 kW, which met the EURO I Standard. Subsequently, an engine with the power increased up to 76 kW (or 85 kW) and intercooler meeting the EURO II Standard was developed. The enhancements also included a modified chassis, strengthened drive unit, power steering system, modified braking system, improved cab interior and enhanced technical parameters of the vehicle.
In 1992, AVIA was transformed into a stock company, and also Avia - Hamilton Standard, a new company with AVIA's equity share manufacturing aircraft propeller was established. One year later, the propeller manufacture was moved from the Letňany factory to the new premises near Stará Boleslav. This definitively terminated the aircraft production in Letňany.
66% of the AVIA Company was privatized by Czech entities in two waves. To ensure the further development of the Company, the Government began to seek for a foreign investor. The relevant discussions were led with several parties concerned. In the first line, it was RENAULT, the French car manufacturing company, with which AVIA already had good long-term experience; followed by the German MERCEDES-BENZ company. However, the 1995 public tender was won by a consortium formed by the South Korean DAEWOO company and Austrian STEYR company. The consortium bought 50.2% of AVIA's shares, thus becoming the majority owner of the Company. The year after, the trade name of the Company was changed to DAEWOO AVIA, a.s. In the same year, the Company became the exclusive importer and distributor of DAEWOO vehicles for the Czech Republic.
In 1997, the AVIA A Series was modernized for the last time. AVIA A 60/ 65/ 75/ 80 models entered the market. The vehicles had a completely new chassis fitted with a riveted frame, fixed front axle, front disk brakes, lesser wheels 205/75 - 17,50" and EURO II engines with the power of 76 kW and/or 85 kW. The vehicles were fitted with a five-speed/six-speed gear-box. The cabs had a new interior, advanced design and they were tilt cabs in the first line. Generally, 250,000 AVIA A Series vehicles, which can be seen in high numbers on our roads even today, left the assembly line of the Letňany car factory in the period between launching the production in 1968 up to its termination, which took place on 13th November 2000. From 1997 to 1999, the Letňany car factory was also assembling LUBLIN and LUBLIN II, the light commercial vehicles imported disassembled from the DAEWOO MOTOR POLAND company.
Simultaneously, preparation work on a completely new product continued. The DAEWOO AVIA´s new management team staked a demanding goal consisting of development and implementation of a completely new medium duty truck, which would cover the 6 to 9 tonnes weight class and would be fully competitive in the western markets in terms of design. The vehicle cab, which got a completely new design and provided a maximum comfort both to driver and crew, was the most significant component of the vehicle. The English DAEWOO designers took a part in the development of the new cab and its interior, while DAEWOO AVIA specialist designers were responsible for the project co-ordination, and engine/chassis development. The new vehicle known as AVIA D Series had its debut in the Czech market in the end of 2000. The major change that came along with the AVIA D 60/90 Series vehicles was mounting of new driving units meeting the legal requirements of EEC R49-03 without a need to re-circulate the exhaust gases. The units included a self-constructed and self-produced engine titled as AVIA D432.100, and CUMMINS ISBe 150 30 engine (England). The CUMMINS engine, with its more even speed-torque characteristic, has applied its advantage namely in more distant transports. Since 2002, the manufacturer has been offering two German ZF company’s gear-box types with the vehicles. Specifically, it comprises the ZF S5-42 five-speed gear-box or ZF S6-850 six-speed gear-box.
However, by the middle of this decade, the operations shrank and volumes dwindled, to reach 650 in 2006, though sales demand remained strong in the home market and in the UK, Spain, Hungary and Ireland – in the latter, Avia had a 16% market share of its segment in 2006. In 2007, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer from India, Ashok Leyland
, took over AVIA. The company has since been renamed Avia Ashok Leyland Motors (AALM).
Soon thereafter, Euro 4-compliant models were introduced in the market. And the strengthening of the marketing infrastructure is on, to support the ramp up of volumes at AALM.
AALM’s range today spans the gross vehicle weight range from 6 tones to 12 tones. Dependent upon model the gross combination weight with a drawbar trailer can be as high as 22 tones, providing for highly economical operation.
As a truck maker, Czech Avia should not be confused with the Spanish Avia
.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
and automotive company notable for producing biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
, especially the B-534
Avia B-534
The Avia B-534 is a Czechoslovak biplane produced during the period between the Great War and World War II. The B-534 is considered one of the last aircraft built with a classic biplane design.-Design and development:...
, and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s.
History
The company was founded by Pavel BenešPavel Beneš
Pavel Beneš was a chief designer at ČKD-Praga, one of the largest engineering companies in the former Czechoslovakia and today's Czech Republic....
, Miroslav Hajn
Miroslav Hajn
Miroslav Hajn was a chief designer at ČKD-Praga, one of the largest engineering companies in the former Czechoslovakia and today's Czech Republic....
, Jaroslav František Koch and Václav Malý in 1919 and became part of Škoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
in 1928. During the 1930s the factory became the biggest aircraft producer in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and moved to Letňany
Letnany
Letňany was founded in 1307, and became part of Prague in 1968. Now it is part of the Prague 9 administrative district, form local government district of Prague 18 and its own cadastral area...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Avia produced aircraft for the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. After the war the company was nationalized
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
and became involved in the automotive industry. It manufactured aircraft up to 1963, then continued to make aircraft engines (producing only ropeller](aircraft)|]s from 1988) and targeted truck production. The company was split in 1992 into propeller and truck sections, both using the Avia brand.
Aircraft
Avia BH-1
|-See also:...
, Avia BH-21
Avia BH-21
|-See also:...
, Avia B-534
Avia B-534
The Avia B-534 is a Czechoslovak biplane produced during the period between the Great War and World War II. The B-534 is considered one of the last aircraft built with a classic biplane design.-Design and development:...
and Avia B-71 (Soviet license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
d Tupolev SB
Tupolev SB
The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB , and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934....
).
Avia had started building Messerschmitt Me 109G soon after WWII as the Avia S-99, but soon ran out of the 109's Daimler-Benz DB 605
Daimler-Benz DB 605
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9* Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-517-67964-7...
engine.
Also during the war the Germans set up a number of assembly plants in Czechoslovakia for production of the Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems prevented the aircraft from attaining operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944...
, designated the Avia S-92. After the war the manufacturing infrastructure remained intact, so production could start up again for the new owners.
The first S-92 was assembled at Letňany Research Institute in 1945 with the airframes coming from Avia and the engines from the repair works in Malešice (the Junkers Jumo 004, now called the M-04). The S-92's first flight was on 27 September 1946, with Avia's chief pilot Antonin Kraus in control. That same year on December 10 the CS-92 took to the air for the first time.
Delivery of the first S-92 to the Czechoslovak Air Force was on 6 February 1948. Twelve were made in all, nine S-92 and three CS-92, equipping the 5th Fighter Flight, until they were grounded for use as instructional airframes in 1951.
By the time Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
showed interest in buying the S-92, Avia was looking at closing down the production line to make way for newer up-to-date aircraft, and when Avia were given a license to make the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 15 Fagot
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in...
(they were already making the Yakovlev Yak 23 Flora
Yakovlev Yak-23
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gordon, Yefim. "Early Soviet Jet Fighters". Hinkley: Midland. 2002. ISBN 1-85780-139-3* Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon. "The Complete Book of Fighters". London: Salamander Books. 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1...
, as the S-101) the S-92 production lines were dismantled.
An Avia S-92 (A-1a) and Avia CS-92 (B-1a) can be seen at the Vojenské Muzeum, Kbely AB.
The Avia S-199
Avia S-199
|-See also:-External links: *** with more pictures and further information...
was a fighter aircraft built in Czechoslovakia after World War II using parts and plans left over from Luftwaffe aircraft production that had taken place in the country during the war. While a problematic aircraft, unpopular with its pilots, it achieved fame as the first fighter obtained by the Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
for use during the War of Independence
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
. Czechoslovak pilots nicknamed it Mezek ("Mule"), whilst in Israel it was known as the Messer ("knife"; it is a common mistake that it was nicknamed Sakeen; the official name was even different - Python).
The S-199 continued to use the Me 109G airframe, but with none of the original engines available, the engine (Junkers Jumo 211
Junkers Jumo 211
|-See also:-References:* Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-517-67964-7-External links:*...
) and propeller from the Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
bomber were used instead. The result of this compromise was an aircraft with poor handling qualities. The substitute engine lacked the responsiveness of the Daimler-Benz unit, was heavier, and the torque created by the massive paddle-bladed propeller made control difficult. This latter flaw, combined with the 109's narrow-track undercarriage
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
also made landings and take-offs more hazardous. A final hidden danger lay in the synchronization gear
Interrupter gear
An interrupter gear is a device used on military aircraft and warships in order to allow them to target opponents without damaging themselves....
which did not seem to work properly, leading a few Israeli aircraft to shoot off their own propellers.
Later produced Avia B-33 (licensed Ilyushin Il-10
Ilyushin Il-10
Ilyushin Il-10 was a Soviet ground attack aircraft developed at the end of World War II by the Ilyushin construction bureau...
) or Avia 14 (licensed Ilyushin Il-14
Ilyushin Il-14
The Ilyushin Il-14 was a Soviet twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that first flew in 1950, and entered service in 1954. Il-14 was also manufactured in East Germany by VVB Flugzeugbau, in Czechoslovakia as the Avia 14, and in China under the Chinese...
), that airliner
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
version (able to carry 42 passengers) became the largest aircraft ever produced in Czechoslovakia.
List of aircraft
- Avia BH-1Avia BH-1|-See also:...
(1920) Single-piston-engine monoplane two-seat touring aircraft. One built - Avia BH-2Avia BH-2|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1921) Single-piston-engine monoplane one-seat touring aircraft. One built - Avia BH-3Avia BH-3|-See also:...
(1921) Fighter aircraft development of BH-2 - Avia BH-4Avia BH-4|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
(1922) Development of BH-3 with larger engine. ne built - Avia BH-5Avia BH-5-Bibliography:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.* *...
(1923) Single-piston-engine monoplane two-seat touring aircraft. One built - Avia BH-6Avia BH-6|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
(1923) Single-piston-engine one-seat biplane fighter aircraft. One built - Avia BH-7Avia BH-7|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
(1923) Single-piston-engine one-seat parasol-wing fighter/racer aircraft. Two built - Avia BH-8Avia BH-8|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
(1923) Development of BH-6. One built - Avia BH-9Avia BH-9|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
(1923) Development of BH-5 - Avia BH-10Avia BH-10|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1924) Development of BH-9. One-seat sport aircraft - Avia BH-11Avia BH-11|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1923) Development of BH-9. Two-seat sport aircraft - Avia BH-12Avia BH-12|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1924) Development of BH-9 with foldable wings - Avia BH-16Avia BH-16|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1924) Very light single-piston-engine one-seat monoplane touring aircraft - Avia BH-17Avia BH-17|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1924) Single-piston-engine one-seat biplane fighter aircraft - Avia BH-19Avia BH-19|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1924) Development of BH-3. Two built - Avia BH-20Avia BH-20|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1924) Single-piston-engine two-seat biplane training aircraft - Avia BH-21Avia BH-21|-See also:...
(1925) Single-piston-engine one-seat biplane fighter/racing aircraft - Avia BH-22Avia BH-22|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1924) Single-piston-engine rwo-seat trainer aircraft. Developed from BH-21 - Avia BH-23Avia BH-23|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1926) Night-fighter development of BH-21 and BH-22. Two built - Avia BH-25Avia BH-25-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
(1926) Single-piston-engine seven-seat biplane transport aircraft - Avia BH-26Avia BH-26|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1927) Single-piston-engine two-seat biplane reconnaissance aircraft - Avia BH-27 (late 1920s) Single-piston-engine four-seat high-wing monoplane transport aircraft. Not built
- Avia BH-28Avia BH-28|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1927) Single-piston-engine two-seat biplane reconnaissance aircraft. One built - Avia BH-29Avia BH-29|-See also:-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....
(1927) Single-piston-engine two-seat biplane trainer aircraft - Avia BH-33Avia BH-33|-See also:-References:* Belcarz, Bartłomiej . Avia BH-33 , PWS-10, PZL P.7a, Polskie Skrzydła #3. Sandomierz: Wydawnictwo Stratus, ISBN 83-89450-36-4 .* Němeček, Vaclav . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...
(1927) Single-piston-engine one-seat fighter aircraft. Development of BH-21 with larger engine - Avia BH-39Fokker F.IX-References:* *...
(1929) Czech bomber adaptation of Fokker F.IXFokker F.IX-References:* *...
, three-piston-engine high-wing monoplane - Avia B-34Avia B-34-References:P. Schumirast, J. Andal. Avia B-34, B-534 a Bk-534 .Jiri Vrany. Avia B-534 ....
(1932) Single-piston-engine one-seat biplane fighter - Avia B-234 (1932) Single-piston-engine one-seat biplane fighter (prototype only).
- Avia B-534Avia B-534The Avia B-534 is a Czechoslovak biplane produced during the period between the Great War and World War II. The B-534 is considered one of the last aircraft built with a classic biplane design.-Design and development:...
(1933) Single-piston-engine one-seat biplane fighter - Avia B-122Avia B.122|...
(1934) Single-piston-engine one-seat biplane aerobatic aircraft - Avia B-71Tupolev SBThe Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB , and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934....
(1934) Czech version of Russian Tupolev SBTupolev SBThe Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB , and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934....
two-piston-engine monoplane bomber - Avia B-35Avia B.35|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bílý, Miroslav with Dénes Bernád and Pavel Kučera. Avia B-35/B-135 . Praha, Czech Republic: MBI, 2003. ISBN 80-86524-03-5....
(1938) Single-piston-engine monoplane fighter - Avia B-135Avia B-135|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bílý, Miroslav with Dénes Bernád and Pavel Kučera. Avia B-35/B-135 . Praha, Czech Republic: MBI, 2003. ISBN 80-86524-03-5....
(1938) Production version of B-35 with metal wing - Avia B-158 (1938) Twin-engined medium bomber, prototype only
- Avia S-92 (1944) Czech production version of German Me 262, two-jet-engine one- or two-seat fighter aircraft
- Avia S-99 (1945) Czech postwar production of German Bf-109G single-piston-engine fighter aircraft
- Avia B-33Ilyushin Il-10Ilyushin Il-10 was a Soviet ground attack aircraft developed at the end of World War II by the Ilyushin construction bureau...
(1944) Czech production version of RussianSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Ilyushin Il-10Ilyushin Il-10Ilyushin Il-10 was a Soviet ground attack aircraft developed at the end of World War II by the Ilyushin construction bureau...
, single-piston-engine two-seat low-wing ground-attack aircraft - Avia S-199Avia S-199|-See also:-External links: *** with more pictures and further information...
(1947) Development of S-99 using different engine and propeller - Avia 14 (1950) Czech version of Russian Ilyushin Il-14Ilyushin Il-14The Ilyushin Il-14 was a Soviet twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that first flew in 1950, and entered service in 1954. Il-14 was also manufactured in East Germany by VVB Flugzeugbau, in Czechoslovakia as the Avia 14, and in China under the Chinese...
, two-piston-engine airliner
Private automobiles
In 1956 and 1957, Avia made a small series of twelve (or fifteen) light automobiles, completely built from aluminium sheet. These cars have a single centrally-placed driver's seat and steering column up front and two rear seats, a sliding cabin for access, and a rear-mounted two-cylinder engine with the exact same displacement as the 350cc JawaJawa 350
The Jawa 350 is a classic motorcycle, formerly produced by Jawa Motors in Czechoslovakia until 1992 and in the Czech Republic from 1993 until the end of production...
motorcycle engine
Motorcycle engine
A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle.Motorcycle engines may be two-stroke or four-stroke, reciprocating or Wankel, single-cylinder or multicylinder , or single-rotor or twin-rotor . The engine typically drives the rear wheel, but some small bikes such as the Velosolex have a...
, but it was a completely different development. The engine produced 15 PS. Two examples of this car still survive, at least one of which is a monoposto streamliner.
Trucks
First of all, the enterprise concentrated on assembling T-805 vehicles. In 1961, it switched to the manufacture of Praga V3S/ S5T, the medium duty truck. The legendary three-tone off-road V3S was maintained in AVIA's manufacturing program until 1988. The vehicle was manufactured not only as a platform car but with different types of bodies as well. It fully utilised its construction designed for extraordinarily heavy use in the army, on site, in forest as well as in any other operation demanding a high performance under the heaviest conditions. The modifications of the Praga S5T model also included a semitrailer truck, S5T-TN model with a “ trambus” cabin. In 1963, manufacture of chassis units for the OT 64 (SKOT) armoured carrier was launched. Praga and Tatra enterprises, but also some Polish manufacturers participated on the manufacture.
In 1965, structural changes of demand concerning a small tonnage lorry appeared both in national and international market. At the AVIA enterprise, they were considering two ways ahead, i.e. own development and/or use of a suitable licence strategy. As a conclusion, the French Renault
Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks is a French truck manufacturer with its corporate headquarters at Saint-Priest near Lyon. Originally part of Renault, it has been owned by Volvo Group since 2001....
-Saviem
Saviem
Saviem is a French manufacturer of trucks and buses and a part of the Renault group...
manufacturer’s offer for two types of trucks was accepted. In the autumn of 1968, the first products started to leave the assembly line. The larger vehicle was named Renault-Saviem SG 4 Super Galion (later AVIA A30), and the smaller was named SG 2 Super Goelette (later AVIA A15). The new manufacture as well as its scope required new buildings as well as modernization of existing enterprise’s premises. New big buildings containing advanced equipment were constructed and thus AVIA was included among the largest Czechoslovak car manufacturers. The yearly production reached 17,000 vehicles. During the years, the manufacture of the AVIA vehicles was continuously modernized. The volume of the Diesel engine increased from original 3.32 up to 3.61, and practically all vehicle units were adapted. In 1983, the AVIA A31 developed from the AVIA A30 model, while the AVIA A15 (later A20) furgon was transferred to the AVIA A 21 model. From 1974 to 1978, modernization of A20, 30, and 40 models was prepared, bringing small wheels, redesigned axles, new dashboard, enhanced cab interior, etc.
In 1989, the concern split in single businesses. In the same year, AVIA Letňany launched assembly of A21 FC furgons by use of pressed parts. In 1993, manufacture of AVIA vehicles equipped with turbo engines designated as A21T and A31T was launched. At the same time, the engine power of these vehicles was increased up to 65 kW, which met the EURO I Standard. Subsequently, an engine with the power increased up to 76 kW (or 85 kW) and intercooler meeting the EURO II Standard was developed. The enhancements also included a modified chassis, strengthened drive unit, power steering system, modified braking system, improved cab interior and enhanced technical parameters of the vehicle.
In 1992, AVIA was transformed into a stock company, and also Avia - Hamilton Standard, a new company with AVIA's equity share manufacturing aircraft propeller was established. One year later, the propeller manufacture was moved from the Letňany factory to the new premises near Stará Boleslav. This definitively terminated the aircraft production in Letňany.
66% of the AVIA Company was privatized by Czech entities in two waves. To ensure the further development of the Company, the Government began to seek for a foreign investor. The relevant discussions were led with several parties concerned. In the first line, it was RENAULT, the French car manufacturing company, with which AVIA already had good long-term experience; followed by the German MERCEDES-BENZ company. However, the 1995 public tender was won by a consortium formed by the South Korean DAEWOO company and Austrian STEYR company. The consortium bought 50.2% of AVIA's shares, thus becoming the majority owner of the Company. The year after, the trade name of the Company was changed to DAEWOO AVIA, a.s. In the same year, the Company became the exclusive importer and distributor of DAEWOO vehicles for the Czech Republic.
In 1997, the AVIA A Series was modernized for the last time. AVIA A 60/ 65/ 75/ 80 models entered the market. The vehicles had a completely new chassis fitted with a riveted frame, fixed front axle, front disk brakes, lesser wheels 205/75 - 17,50" and EURO II engines with the power of 76 kW and/or 85 kW. The vehicles were fitted with a five-speed/six-speed gear-box. The cabs had a new interior, advanced design and they were tilt cabs in the first line. Generally, 250,000 AVIA A Series vehicles, which can be seen in high numbers on our roads even today, left the assembly line of the Letňany car factory in the period between launching the production in 1968 up to its termination, which took place on 13th November 2000. From 1997 to 1999, the Letňany car factory was also assembling LUBLIN and LUBLIN II, the light commercial vehicles imported disassembled from the DAEWOO MOTOR POLAND company.
Simultaneously, preparation work on a completely new product continued. The DAEWOO AVIA´s new management team staked a demanding goal consisting of development and implementation of a completely new medium duty truck, which would cover the 6 to 9 tonnes weight class and would be fully competitive in the western markets in terms of design. The vehicle cab, which got a completely new design and provided a maximum comfort both to driver and crew, was the most significant component of the vehicle. The English DAEWOO designers took a part in the development of the new cab and its interior, while DAEWOO AVIA specialist designers were responsible for the project co-ordination, and engine/chassis development. The new vehicle known as AVIA D Series had its debut in the Czech market in the end of 2000. The major change that came along with the AVIA D 60/90 Series vehicles was mounting of new driving units meeting the legal requirements of EEC R49-03 without a need to re-circulate the exhaust gases. The units included a self-constructed and self-produced engine titled as AVIA D432.100, and CUMMINS ISBe 150 30 engine (England). The CUMMINS engine, with its more even speed-torque characteristic, has applied its advantage namely in more distant transports. Since 2002, the manufacturer has been offering two German ZF company’s gear-box types with the vehicles. Specifically, it comprises the ZF S5-42 five-speed gear-box or ZF S6-850 six-speed gear-box.
However, by the middle of this decade, the operations shrank and volumes dwindled, to reach 650 in 2006, though sales demand remained strong in the home market and in the UK, Spain, Hungary and Ireland – in the latter, Avia had a 16% market share of its segment in 2006. In 2007, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer from India, Ashok Leyland
Ashok Leyland
Ashok Leyland is a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in Chennai, India. Founded in 1948, the company is one of India's leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, as well as emergency and military vehicles. Operating six plants, Ashok Leyland also makes...
, took over AVIA. The company has since been renamed Avia Ashok Leyland Motors (AALM).
Soon thereafter, Euro 4-compliant models were introduced in the market. And the strengthening of the marketing infrastructure is on, to support the ramp up of volumes at AALM.
AALM’s range today spans the gross vehicle weight range from 6 tones to 12 tones. Dependent upon model the gross combination weight with a drawbar trailer can be as high as 22 tones, providing for highly economical operation.
As a truck maker, Czech Avia should not be confused with the Spanish Avia
Avia Vehicles
Avia was the brand name under which the commercial vehicles built by the Spanish Aeronáutica Industrial S. A. company were marketed....
.