Aero A 102

Denoting a major departure from previous Aero fighter design practice, the A102 was ordered by the MNO in 1933 and was intended to reflect the latest state of the art. The A102 was to be designed around the Walter-built Gnome-Rhone Mistral Major 14Kfs 14-cylinder radial air-cooled engine of 800hp, be of all-metal construction and carry an armament of four 7.7mm machine guns. Initially, the A102 was an elegant single-bay biplane with the upper wing gulled into the fuselage decking. This proposal gave place to a semi-cantilever low wing monoplane (A 102D), and, in turn, to a gull wing monoplane, this configuration having become fashionable in Europe in the mid 'thirties. The first of two prototypes of the A102 was flown in July 1934, the armament of four Model 30 guns being installed in the wing to fire outboard of the propeller arc. Climb rate and manoeuvrability proved good, and plans were prepared to install a 930hp Mistral Major Krsd engine in one of the prototypes, but landing characteristics were poor, and, lacking flaps and having a wing loading of 110kg/m², the A102's touch down speed was 110km/h, which was viewed as excessive by the MNO. A forced landing resulted from an engine failure shortly after the commencement of flight trials, and a further accident occurred in 1936, but the aircraft was repaired and exhibited at the 1937 National Aircraft Exhibition. By this time, the MNO considered the B 35 monoplane being proposed by Avia to possess more promise and further development of the A102 was discontinued.

3-View

A three-view drawing (800 x 530)