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Beneš Mráz Be 50 Beta Minor

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Top speed
  
205 km/h

Length
  
7.76 m

Designer
  
Pavel Beneš

Wingspan
  
11 m

Manufacturer
  
Beneš-Mráz

Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

The Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor was a light airplane manufactured in Czechoslovakia shortly before World War II.

Contents

Design and development

First flown in 1935, it was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of wooden construction, with tandem open cockpits and fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The aircraft proved popular with Czechoslovakia's aeroclubs and was successful in international competitions. In 1937, the designers created a modernised version, the Be-51, which featured a reduced wingspan and fully enclosed cockpits. A final variant, the Be-52 Beta-Major retained the Be-50's open cockpits but featured improved aerodynamics and a more powerful Walter Major engine.

Operational history

Like other Czechoslovakian aircraft, all available machines were impressed into Air Force service at the outbreak of war. Several Be-51s survived to be used by the Luftwaffe as liaison aircraft and trainers during the occupation.

Variants

Be-50 Beta-Minor
Be-51 Beta-Minor
Be-52 Beta-Major

Operators

 Independent State of Croatia
  • Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia
    •  Germany
  • Luftwaffe
    •  Slovakia
  • Slovak Air Force (1939-1945)

    • Specifications (Be-51 Beta-Minor)

    Data from

    General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 7.76 m (25 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.44 m (37 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 15.3 m2 (165 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 480 kg (1,058 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 760 kg (1,676 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Walter Minor 4-cyl. inverted air-cooled in-line piston engine, 71 kW (95 hp) for take-off
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller

    • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 205 km/h (127 mph; 111 kn) at sea level
  • Cruising speed: 180 km/h (112 mph; 97 kn)
  • Range: 800 km (497 mi; 432 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 6 minutes

    • References

    Beneš-Mráz Be-50 Beta-Minor Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA