The Letov Š-18 was a

Czechoslovak Czechoslovak may refer to: *A demonym or adjective pertaining to Czechoslovakia (1918–93) **First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–38) **Second Czechoslovak Republic (1938–39) **Third Czechoslovak Republic (1948–60) **Fourth Czechoslovak Repub ...

single-engined, two-seat

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

trainer. It was designed by Alois Smolík at

Letov Kbely Letov is an aircraft company located in Letňany, Prague, Czech Republic. It is the oldest aircraft company in the region. History Letov was founded in 1918 by the Czechoslovak Ministry of Defense to repair World War I trophy planes. The first i ...

. The Š-18 first flew in

1925 Events January * January 1 ** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria. * January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Italia ...

. The aircraft was quite successful and sold well, both to private pilots and to flying clubs. Apart from the basic variant, there was also still the type Š-118, which was equipped with a Walter NZ-85 engine (85 hp, 63 KW). Some machines were exported to Bulgaria. The Czechoslovakian Air Force used the type 1925 to 1930 as a beginner trainer aircraft. A complete reconstruction of the fuselage led to the Š-218, which had a steel tube frame and was equipped with a

Walter NZ-120 The Walter NZ 120 was a nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine for aircraft use built in Czechoslovakia by Walter Aircraft Engines in the 1920s. Using common cylinders and parts from the NZ (Novák-Zeithammer) range of engines the NZ 120 produ ...

engine. The first flight of this type took place in 1926. In 1929, one Š-218 Smolik was presented at Helsinki International Air Show. The

Finnish Air Force The Finnish Air Force (FAF or FiAF; fi, Ilmavoimat, , Air forces; sv, Flygvapnet, , Air weapon) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of Finnis ...

showed interest in the type and purchased it in March 1930. Nine more were soon ordered along with the

manufacturing license Licensed production is the production under license of technology developed elsewhere. The licensee provides the licensor of a specific product with legal production rights, technical information, process technology, and any other proprietary compon ...

. The nine aircraft ordered from Czechoslovakia arrived at Finland in June–July 1931. The Finnish State Aircraft Factory manufactured 29 slightly modified aircraft in three series. The first ten (powered by

Walter Mars The Walter Mars was a Czechoslovakian 14-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine for powering aircraft, a licensed built Gnome-Rhône 14M. Applications *Focke-Wulf Fw 189Note. 204 of these airplanes were produced in the Aero Praha factory during t ...

engines) were ready in 1933, the second series of ten aircraft (powered by

Walter Gemma The Walter Gemma was a Czechoslovakian nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aero engine that was developed and manufactured in the early 1930s by Walter Aircraft Engines. Applications * Nuri Demirağ Nu D.36 *Praga E-39 Engines on display A pres ...

engines) were ready in 1935, and nine more (powered by

Bramo Sh 14 The Siemens-Halske Sh 14 was a seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine for aircraft produced in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. First run in 1928, it was rated at 93 kW (125 hp). Applications * Albatros L 82 * Ambrosini SAI.3 * Amb ...

) were in 1936.Listemann & Ritaranta 2012, pp. 181–182 The Finnish version could develop a maximum speed of 155 km/h (83 knots, 96 mph). The type was in service with the Finnish Air Force as a primary trainer between 1930 - 1945. One aircraft is still preserved at the

Finnish Aviation Museum The Finnish Aviation Museum ( fi, Suomen ilmailumuseo, sv, Finlands flygmuseum) is a museum specialising in aircraft, located near Helsinki Airport in Veromies, Vantaa, Finland. History The Aviation Museum Society ( fi, Ilmailumuseoyhdistys ry) ...

Vantaa Vantaa (; sv, Vanda, ) is a city and Municipalities of Finland, municipality in Finland. It is part of the inner core of the Greater Helsinki, Finnish Capital Region along with Helsinki, Espoo, and Kauniainen. With a population of (), Vantaa i ...

and one replica is being built in Finland (as of 2005).

Versions

*Letov Š-18 Walter NZ-60 *Letov Š-118 Walter NZ-85 *Letov Š-218 Walter NZ-120 or Bramo (Finnish production)

Operators

Bulgarian Air Force The Bulgarian Air Force ( bg, Военновъздушни сили, Voennovazdushni sili) is one of the three branches of the Military of Bulgaria, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and p ...

Czechoslovakian Air Force The Czechoslovak Air Force (''Československé letectvo'') or the Czechoslovak Army Air Force (''Československé vojenské letectvo'') was the air force branch of the Czechoslovak Army formed in October 1918. The armed forces of Czechoslovakia ce ...

39 aircraft

Specifications (Š-218 Smolik)

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Letov S-18 1920s Czechoslovakian military trainer aircraft Š-18 Biplanes Aircraft first flown in 1925 Single-engined tractor aircraft