Category:Praga BH-36

The Praga BH‑36, conceived by Czech designer Miroslav Hajn in the early 1930s, represents a pivotal step in interwar sport aviation. Developed by the Praga Works, the aircraft emerged from Hajn’s earlier experiments with low‑powered monoplanes, aiming to create a lightweight, aerobatic trainer suitable for both civilian clubs and military reserve units. Built with a wooden frame covered in fabric, the BH‑36 featured a sleek, low‑wing configuration and a modest 85 hp Walter Vega radial engine, delivering a respectable top speed of around 170 km/h (106 mph) and a climb rate that impressed contemporary pilots. Its balanced control surfaces and generous rudder authority made it highly responsive in maneuvers, while the fixed, spatted undercarriage offered simplicity and durability on uneven airfields. Although production numbers remained limited—only a handful were completed before the outbreak of World War II—the BH‑36 left a lasting imprint on Czechoslovak aviation. It demonstrated the feasibility of affordable, high‑performance sport aircraft and helped train a generation of pilots who would later serve in the Czechoslovak Air Force, underscoring Miroslav Hajn’s influence on aeronautical design and the nation’s aviation heritage.

Miroslav Hajn

Category:Praga BH-36

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