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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
 |name=B-34
 |image=Avia B-34.jpg
 |caption=
 |type=Fighter
 |manufacturer=[[Avia Motors|Avia]]
 |designer=[[František Novotný]]
 |first_flight=2 February [[1932 in aviation|1932]]
 |introduction=
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary_user=[[Czechoslovak Air Force]]
 |more_users=
 |produced=
 |number_built=14
 |variants=
}}

The '''Avia B-34''' was a [[biplane]] [[fighter aircraft]] built in [[Czechoslovakia]] in the early 1930s. It was the first design of [[František Novotný]] for the Avia company and although built only in small numbers, it paved the way for the [[Avia B-534]].

==Development==

The B-34 was an all-metal single-bay biplane of conventional configuration, with [[Conventional landing gear|tailwheel undercarriage]]. The mainwheels of the prototype were fitted with [[Aircraft fairing|large spats]]. The first [[prototype]] underwent testing from 2 February 1932, leading to a large number of modifications being made, in particular the [[Empennage|tail]] and engine [[cowling]] designs were considerably revised. The resulting '''B-34.1''' served as the prototype for the 12 production machines ordered by the Czechoslovak Air Force. These had an even larger vertical tail, [[interplane strut]]s of narrower chord, and no wheel spats.

A second prototype, the '''B-34.2''' was fitted with an Avia Rr 29 [[radial engine]] but was never actually flown with it as the engine was not sufficiently developed. It was, however, offered to the Air Force under the redesignation '''B-234'''. The second prototype was then fitted with an inline [[Hispano-Suiza 12Y]]brs piston engine, and later redesignated '''B-534.1'''.

==Operational history==
The twelve production B-34s entered service with the 37 Stíhací Letka (fighter squadron) of the [[Czechoslovak Air Force]] in September 1934. They were retired to training duties in 1937. Despite inferior overall performance and some unpopularity, the aircraft was robust. Until the end of the [[First Czechoslovak Republic]] in March 1939, only one aircraft was lost; B-34.4 crashed and was written off in April 1937.

Eight of the B-34s were handed over to the German [[Luftwaffe]] when the Czechoslovak state ceased to exist in March 1939. At least three were soon lost in crashes and it is likely that the others were retired from use rather than being used for training purposes. The remaining three B-34s were retained by the new [[Slovak Air Force (1939–1945)]] (''Slovenské vzdušné zbrane''). One, perhaps two of these were still being used for training at Tri Duby airfield (today called [[Sliač Airport]]) in August 1944. They then effectively became part of the Kombinovaná letka (combined squadron) of the [[Slovak Insurgent Air Force]] during the Slovak National Uprising against the Germans in September 1944. There is no evidence of them being used in combat at this time and if they survived the uprising they were almost certainly among the aircraft destroyed by the Slovaks before they left the airfield after the failure of the uprising.

==Variants==
'''B-34.1''' First prototype, flew Feb 1932

'''B-34.2''' Second prototype, redesignated B-234 with [[Avia Rr 29]] engine, then again as B-34.2 with [[Hispano-Suiza 12Y]]brs engine, redesignated [[Avia B-534]].1.

'''B-34.3 to B-34.14''' Production aircraft

<!-- ==Aircraft markings== -->

==Units using this aircraft==
;{{CZS}}: Czechoslovak 37 Letka (squadron) 3rd Air Regiment
;{{flag|Germany|Nazi}}: The German ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
;{{flagicon|Slovakia|1938}} [[Slovak Republic (WWII)|Slovakia]]: [[Slovak Air Force (1939–1945)]]

==Specifications (B-34/1)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = met
|crew=one pilot
|length m=7.25
|length ft=23
|length in=9
|span m=9.40
|span ft=30
|span in=10
|wing area sqm=23.9
|wing area sqft=257
|empty weight kg=1,305
|empty weight lb=2,877
|gross weight kg=1,730
|gross weight lb=3,814
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=liquid cooled [[Avia Vr 36]] (Hispano-Siuza HS-12Nbr) engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->552
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->740
|max speed kmh=315
|max speed mph=196
|range km=600
|range miles=370
|ceiling m=7,000
|ceiling ft=23,000
|climb rate ms=3.7
|climb rate ftmin=720
|armament = *2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm vz.28 machine guns
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
*[[Avia B-534]]

==References==
P. Schumirast, J. Andal. ''Avia B-34, B-534 a Bk-534'' (HT Model Special).

Jiri Vrany. ''Avia B-534'' (MBI).

==External links==
{{commons category|Avia B-34}}

{{AVIA aircraft}}

[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:1930s Czechoslovak fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Avia aircraft|B-034]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1932]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]