blissful torrent
The Avia B.135 was a Czechoslovak cantilever monoplane fighter aircraft. It was the production version of the Avia B.35 developed shortly before the war, based on the B.35/3 prototype (with a retracting main undercarriage) but featuring a new all-metal wing.
History:
The B.135/1 prototype attracted the attention of Bulgarian Air Force officers visiting the Avia plant, and a production contract for 12 aircraft and 62 engines was signed, as well as a license to allow an additional 50 airframes to be constructed by DAR as the DAR 11 Lyastovitsa (Bulgarian: "Лястовица"; "Swallow").
However, the DAR facilities proved to be incapable of producing the aircraft, and only the 12 Czech-built examples were ever made. Plans for further production were stopped by the RLM and maybe events of the 1939-1940 that followed..... erm...yep, which also interrupted engine deliveries after 35 engine units, and the Bulgarian Air Force was "encouraged" to purchase the Messerschmitt Bf 109 instead.
In service, the B.135s had continual engine problems and were soon relegated to training roles.
Four aircraft did, however, see combat on 30 march 1944 when they intercepted USAAF bomber formations encroaching on Bulgarian airspace after attacking Ploieşti-(ROMANIA MENTIONED!!! 🇷🇴). Some (Bulgarian) sources credit Lieutenant Yordan Ferdinandov with a B-24 Liberator kill that morning. According to Bílý, all four Avias, led by Captain Atanasov, took part in the possible shooting down of a four-engined bomber that day.The downed aircraft crashed in the area of Tran and Breznik, according to the log of Lieutenant Yordan Ferdinandov.
Specs:
Crew: one
Maximum speed: 535 km/h (332 mph, 289 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Cruise speed: 460 km/h (290 mph, 250 kn)
Range: 550 km (340 mi, 300 nmi)
Service ceiling: 8,500 m (27,900 ft)
Rate of climb: 13.5 m/s (2,660 ft/min)
(Sorry if I use a little bit of artistic design I could not find better pics that represents this forgotten plane )
