Avia B 135 (Av 135)

Bulgarian evaluation pilots had flown the B 35.2 in November 1939, and, in June 1940, flew the B 35.3 alias Av 135.1. With the agreement of the RLM in Berlin, the development programme of the Avia fighter was permitted to continue in what by now was the so-called "Protectorate" of Bohemia-Moravia specifically for the Bulgarian Ministry of War. A contract was placed with Avia for 12 Av 135 fighters for final assembly at Lovech, in Central Bulgaria, where a further 50 were to be licence-built for the Royal Bulgarian Air Force as the DAR-11 Ljastuvka (Swallow). The dozen Avia-built Av 135 fighters were delivered in the summer of 1942, but only 35 of the 62 HS 12Ycrs engines intended for the licence-built aircraft reached Bulgaria and the licence construction programme was cancelled. The Av 135s were consigned to a Fighter Pilot School, but did see some operational use in 1944. The Av 135 was of similar construction to the B 35, was powered by an Avia-built Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs engine rated at 860hp at 4000m and 800hp at sea level, and carried an armament of one 20mm and two 7.92mm guns. It differed from the B 35.3 essentially in having shorter-span ailerons and enlarged flaps.