Letov Š-7

The Letov Š‑7 was a Czechoslovak single‑engine biplane developed by Letov Kbely in the early 1930s as a replacement for the aging Š‑2 reconnaissance aircraft. First flown in 1933, the Š‑7 incorporated a mixed construction of wooden wings and a steel‑tube fuselage covered with fabric, a typical approach for the era that balanced strength and weight. Powered by a 450 hp Avia Rk.17 inline engine, it achieved a maximum speed of 250 km/h and a service ceiling of 7 500 m, allowing it to perform short‑range tactical reconnaissance and light ground‑attack missions. Its staggered wing layout and generous cut‑away cockpit gave pilots excellent visibility, while detachable armament stations permitted mounting of a single 7.7 mm machine gun and up to 200 kg of small bombs. Only a limited batch of 15 aircraft entered service with the Czechoslovak Air Force before being superseded by more modern monoplanes. Nevertheless, the Š‑7 demonstrated Letov’s capability to integrate contemporary powerplants and aerodynamics, influencing later designs such as the Š‑16 and contributing to the development of interwar Czechoslovak military aviation. A few airframes survived the war and were later displayed in the National Technical Museum in Prague, preserving the Š‑7’s place in Czech aeronautical heritage.

Letov Kbely

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