Avia BH-7

The BH-7 was a fighter aircraft developed by the Czechoslovakian firm Avia. It was designed by Pavel Beneš and Miroslav Hain, building upon the BH-6 fighter. Unlike its predecessor, the BH-7 featured a “parasol” wing and a more powerful Hispano-Suiza 8Fb engine.

The Avia BH-7A: A Monoplane Competitor

The single-seat BH-7A monoplane fighter took to the skies in spring 1923, effectively competing with the BH-6 biplane prototype. It utilized the basic powerplant and fuselage of its predecessor, combined with a distinctive parasol wing. The BH-7A’s main landing gear position and paired biplane radiators were largely similar to those of the BH-6.

This similarity to the BH-6 also impacted its flight test program, which was discontinued after two flight incidents.

The Unsuccessful BH-7B Racing Aircraft

The BH-7B was developed from the BH-7A as a racing aircraft. Its primary modifications involved a wing reduced in span and area, which was also directly integrated with the upper fuselage. Although equipped with a Hispano-Suiza 8Fb engine with a supercharger, both the engine and the fighter ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Technical Specifications

Modification	BH-7
Wingspan, m	10.40
Length, m	6. 84
Height, m	2. 83
Wing area, m2	18. 15
Empty weight	885
Normal takeoff weight	1151
Engine type	1 Piston engine Hispano-Suiza 8Fb
Power, hp	1 х 310
Maximum speed, km/h	240
Cruising speed, km/h	218
Practical range, km	480
Rate of climb, m/min	400
Service ceiling, m	8000
Crew, crew	1
Armament:	2 forward 7.7-mm machine guns

Image and diagram gallery of the Avia BH-7

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