The Aero

Aero Vodochody

Aero Vodochody is a Czech aircraft company, active from 1919, notable for producing the L-29 Delfin, L-39 Albatros, L-59 Super Albatros and the L-159 Alca....

 Ae 02 was the first fighter aircraft

Fighter aircraft

A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...

 to be designed and built in Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...

, first flying in 1920. Of conventional biplane

Biplane

A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...

 configuration, the aircraft's performance was adequate for a fighter of its day, but the Czech Air Force

Czech Air Force

The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Land Forces, comprises the Joint Forces, the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...

 was not interested in purchasing it.

Flown by Josef Novak

Josef Novák

Josef Novák is a retired football defender.During his club career, Novák played solely for Dukla Prague. He also amassed 12 caps for the Czech national team, scoring 2 goals.-External links:*...

, the Ae 02 went on to win the Silver Cup at the Czech Aeroclub's annual flying meet of 1921 for best overall performance. Development continued as the Ae 04

Aero Ae 04

-See also:-References:* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough.The Complete Book of Fighters. New York, Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8....

.

Specifications (Ae 02)

See also