Aero A.100

Development of the A.100 was in response to a Czechoslovak Air Force requirement for a uniform replacement for the Aero A.230s, Aero Ap.32s, and Letov Š.16s light bombers and reconnaissance aircraft then in service. Work began with a further revision of the Aero A.30, the Aero A.430, which incorporated little of the original designs from which it had been evolved and was soon redesignated Aero A.100, in a new numbering sequence just introduced by Aero. The A.100 was a single-engined biplane of mixed wood and metal construction with a fixed conventional landing gear. The aircraft's fuselage was elliptical section, and had a steel tube structure covered in duralumin panels. The unequal-span wings were of wooden construction with fabric covering. Of standard biplane configuration, the A.100 was a somewhat ungainly-looking aircraft which was obsolescent by the time of its first flight in 1933, becoming a member of the final generation of biplane military aircraft to be designed in Europe. ==Operational history==

Nevertheless, since the only other competitor for the air force contract, the Praga E.36, had not flown by the close of tenders, the A.100 was ordered for production. A total of 44 were built, in two batches. ==Further development==

The Aero A.100 was later developed into Aero A.101 with Praga Isotta Fraschini Asso 1000 RV engine (800 h.p.), first flying in December 1934, this type served in the Spanish Civil War curiously on both sides of the conflict. Further development led to Aero Ab.101 (enlarged hull and wings plus Avia Hispano Suiza HS 12 Ydrs engine rated 860 h.p.) produced from 1936 to 1937 and serving in the Czechoslovak Air Force up to its dissolution in March 1939. Final stage of the development was Aero A.104, where Ab.101 was converted to a high-wing monoplane with enclosed cockpit, only one prototype was built in 1937. ==Specifications (A.100)==

; • Czechoslovak Air Force ; • Luftwaffe (small numbers) ; • Slovak Air Force (1939–1945) ==See also==