Home  |  What's New  |  Features  |  Gallery  |  Reviews  |  Reference  |  Forum  |  Search

Avia S92 Closeup 

by Norman Graf

 

Avia S92

Avia S92 V-34

 

Background

 

Messerschmitt  Me262 airframe parts and Jumo 004 jet engines were produced in factories in occupied Czechoslovakia during the closing years of World War Two. After the end of the war, spare Me262 airframes and Jumo 004 jet engines were accumulated at the Avia factory in Prague, with the intention of completing as many fighters as possible for the new Czechoslovak Air Force. 

Work proceeded slowly. By 1950 only five S92 fighters were on strength. With the introduction of license-built MiG-15s in 1951, the S92 was retired and the aircraft were dispersed to training facilities. Today only V-34 survives.

 

 

Images

 

Click on the thumbnails below to view the images full size.
Click the "Back" arrow on your browser to return to this page

 

Overview Photographs

The Avia S92 at the Kbely Aviation Museum outside Prague, Czech Republic, is housed in a dimly-lit hanger crowded in with many other exhibits. Clear overview photographs are difficult to obtain.

 

Cockpit view Nose view Starboard underwing Starboard tail view Port tail view

Here are some general views of the fuselage. Paint scheme was RLM02 overall. The call sign was repeated under each wing.

Nosewheel

Nosewheel The nosewheel used a 660x160 tire and incorporated a hydraulic brake. The routing of the brake line is clearly visible.

Nosewheel well

 Looking forward into the nosewheel bay one sees the retraction jack and wheelwell door closing mechanism.

Main Landing Gear

 

Looking back.

Starboard Main Gear, looking backwards

Upper and lower gear legs had separate wheel well covers to allow for oleo extension. Tread pattern on tires is correct.

Port Main Gear, looking backwards

 

Looking forward.

Port Main Gear, looking forewards

 Note that, unlike the Me262A, there are two oleo scissor links per strut. Also note the FuG16ZY antenna on the starboard side. The routing of the brake lines and hydraulic lines for the retraction jacks is clearly visible. Starboard Main Gear, looking forewards

Wheel Wells

Landing gear struts and retraction jack details.

Starboard Main Gear, looking backwards         Port Main Gear, right is forewards         Starboard Main Gear, looking forewards

Wheel wells, looking back. The cylindrical shape of the cockpit tub is clearly visible.



Starboard Main Gear Wheelwell, looking backwards         Port Main Gear Wheelwell, looking backwards

Wheel wells, looking forward. On the port side, in blue, is an oxygen supply bottle. Routing of the electrical cables and feed-throughs to the cockpit are seen clearly. The pushrods which open and close the inner wheel well doors can also be made out.

Port Main Gear Wheelwell, looking forewards        Starboard Main Gear Wheelwell, looking forewards

Main Gear inner wheel well doors.

Main Gear Inner wheelwell doors, front to the left

Engines

The powerplant was the Jumo 004. The museum's example has been cut open to expose the turbine blades and other internal workings.

Jumo 004 Engine, starboard view

Starboard view

Jumo 004 Engine, top view

Jumo 004 Engine, port view

Port View

Armament

Normal armament for the Me262 was 4 30mm cannon (MK108). The museum's S92 has its barrel openings faired over.

MK108 30mm Cannon

Text and Images Copyright © 2000 by Norman Graf
Page Created 10 June, 2000
Last updated 18 May, 2001

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reference Index