Avia S.199

After the war, Czechoslovakia's aircraft industry was left with a lot of uncompleted Messerschmitt Bf 109 airframes but no Daimler-Benz engines, and a lot of Junkers Jumo engines but no bomber airframes. These parts were combined into the Avia S.199. The bomber engine gave too much torque at high power, as when taking off, and combined with the narrow undercarriage, this meant many accidents. The bigger engine made the S.I99 nose heavy, which was a particularly bad way to be during landing. Due to its awful handling characteristics and mismatched parentage, the S. 199 was nicknamed the Mezek ('Mule'). Desperate for any sort of fighter, Israel bought 25 in 1948. Although a valuable morale booster, the S.199s were as dangerous to IAF pilots as to the enemy, and three-quarters were written off within a year.

FACTS AND FIGURES

© At altitude the Jumo didn't give enough power and on take-off it gave too much. The nose was too heavy and the paddle-bladed propellers gave too much torque.

© Israeli S.199s had the Erla-type canopy which hinged to the right. Czech aircraft used a design which slid back to open. Aerials on the rear fuselage were further aft on this version.

© The 'Mule' was the ultimate development of the Bf 109 airframe and is generally regarded as the worst of the breed. Avia had slightly more success with their own version of the Me 262 jet.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1663 x 1290)