Avia S.199

1947

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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.

Avia S.199

Specification 
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x 1350hp Junkers Jumo 211F inline piston engine
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight3736 kg8237 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan9.92 m33 ft 7 in
  Length8.94 m29 ft 4 in
  Height2.59 m9 ft 6 in
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed528 km/h328 mph

3-View 
Avia S.199A three-view drawing (1663 x 1290)

Comments
Richard Aubrecht, 09.06.2012 15:52

Tony Anderson - no, C-10 is not a shortening of G10. C-10 means tenth aircraft type in training category. C=cvičný. They were originaly intended to be a temporary training equipment before newer equipment arrives, but later were renamed to fighter /stíhací S-99, because of shortage of new fighters.

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beiguo, 18.06.2011 07:04

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.

reply

Noname, e-mail, 31.03.2020 10:24

In short it is a Bf109G10, nothing else!

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tony anderson, e-mail, 11.11.2009 15:30

It is so refreshing to find a site where someone is not trying to perpetuate the myth that the Czechs rebuilt Bf109G-14s. Whilst these may have been available, the Czechs opted for Bf109G-10s!!!! Just take a good look at any 'photo of the DB powered C10 (Now why do you think that they chose that designation? A shortening of Czech G10 perhaps?) & you will find:-1> refined cowl >2 radio hatch in old position >3 tall fin /rudder 4> 660x190 main wheels / large wing bulges 5> high filler point for nose oil tank & 6>BULGES UNDER FORWARD PART OF OIL COOLER COWLING!!!
2> Rules out a K series, 5> & 6> make it a DB605D engine. In short it is a Bf109G10, nothing else!

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