Avia B-534

[Clave]

The Avia B-534 was designed and built in Czechoslovakia and entered service in 1935. It was the most advanced biplane of the time, and four variants were built, none of which saw combat for Czechoslovakia due to the invasion and partition of the country in 1939.

The B-534 saw combat with the Slovak Air Force, the Bulgarian Air Force, and was used for training and other duties by the Luftwaffe.

The B-534-I was armed with 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns.
The B-534-II was armed with 4 x 7.92 mm machine guns.
The B-534-III was armed with 4 x 7.92 mm machine guns. It also had a revised air intake and wheel fairings.
The B-534-IV was armed with 4 x 7.92 mm machine guns. It also had an enclosed cockpit along with the revisions on Type III.

There were exceptions to these general versions, and pilots sometimes made 'field modifications' including removing the enclosed cockpit and wheel fairings.

 

[Clave]

Series 1:

B-534-I Czech Air Force 1938.

B-534-I Czech Air Force 1938.

B-534-I Czech Air Force 1936.

B-534-I Czech Air Force 1937.

B-534-I Luftwaffe 1940.

B-534-I Slovak Air Force 1941.

 

[Clave]

Series 2:

B-534-II Czech Air Force 1938.

B-534-II Slovak Air Force 1940.

 

[Clave]

Series 3:

B-534-III Czech Air Force 1938.

B-534-III Slovak Air Force 1939.

 

[Clave]

Series 4:

B-534-IV Bulgarian Air Force 1940.

B-534-IV Bulgarian Air Force 1940.

B-534-IV Bulgarian Air Force 1943.

B-534-IV Bulgarian Air Force 1943.

B-534-IV Luftwaffe 1939.

B-534-IV Luftwaffe 1939.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

 

[Wildcat]

Excellent as usual Clave!!

 

[109ROAMING]

Nice work Clave,appreciate you posting them

 

[Wurger]

Cool Clave... Were you thinking about the B-534 in Polish markings used for the movie about the Polish campaign 1939?

 

[seesul]

Thanks Clave for posting these beautiful profiles!

 

[Gnomey]

Excellent as usual Clave!

 

[Lucky13]

Awesome as always Clave! I'd love to see some more unsual subjects....8)

 

[Airframes]

Nice work again.

 

[Clave]

Thanks everyone!

This is a spin-off from a series of black-and-white profiles that I have been doing on commission - so mostly I'll be sticking with those more than unusual things... But, it's a good set:

Arado Ar-68: Finished
Avia B-534: Finished
Messerschmitt Bf-109-D1: Finished
Messerschmitt Bf-109-E4: Finished
Messerschmitt Bf-109-F4: Finished
Messerschmitt Bf-109-G6: In Progress
Focke-Wulf Fw-190-A4: Finished
Focke-Wulf Fw-190-A8: In Progress
Focke-Wulf Fw-190-D9: In Progress
Heinkel He-51: Finished
Heinkel He-162: In Progress
Messerschmitt Me-163: Finished
Messerschmitt Me-262: Finished

 

[mudpuppy]

I was not familiar at all with the He-51 so i just did quick read through a few of my reference books; looking forward to seeing more of these. Thanks, Clave!

 

[parsifal]

How would the B-534 have compared with the early mark BF 109s (B, C &D subtypes) in 1938...how many were available to the Czechs and how much opposition would they have ranged against them???/ Often wondered about that

 

[Clave]

They lacked the sheer speed of the 109, but were pretty maneuverable - as are most biplanes but the 290mph of the 109 vs 245mph for the Avia is the biggest factor imo - Speed Kills and all that...

 

[Clave]

From Wiki:

Bulgaria bought 78 B.534s in 1939, well after the partition. The last batch of these aircraft arrived in March 1942. On 1 August 1943, seven of these aircraft were able to make two passes at American B-24 Liberator bombers returning from the raid on Ploieşti. Hits were scored but no B-24s were shot down and some of the B.534s that received damage in the combat, cracked up on landing. After the anti-German coup of 9 September 1944, Bulgaria switched sides overnight and its B.534s were often used in ground attacks against German units. On 10 September 1944, six B.534s were involved in a brief melee with six German Bf 109s at low altitude. One B.534 was lost, but the Germans quickly broke off, wary of the low altitude and the B.534's maneuverability.

 

[Wayne Little]

Great work Clave!8)

 

[Matt308]

Excellent as usual Clave. This was a new airplane for me. You take the upper wing off and she looks quite comparable in profile to other major power fighters of the time. Very interesting.