View source for Avia BH-1

{{Short description|Czechoslovak sports aircraft}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = BH-1
| image = Avia_b-h1(exp)_aircraft.jpg
| caption = An Avia BH-1 replica, OK-GUU25
| type = Sportsplane
| manufacturer = [[Avia Motors|Avia]]
| designer = [[Pavel Beneš]] and [[Miroslav Hajn]]
| first_flight = 13 October 1920
| number_built = 1 + 1 airworthy replica
}}

The '''Avia BH-1''' was a two-seat sports plane built in [[Czechoslovakia]] in 1920. It was the first product of the [[Avia Motors|Avia]] company, and it was originally designated '''BH-1 exp'''. The BH-1 was a low-wing braced [[monoplane]] of wooden construction, with [[Conventional landing gear|tailskid undercarriage]]. Power was provided by a [[Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft|Daimler]] engine, which proved inadequate to fly the aircraft with both seats occupied.

Soon after its first flight, it was exhibited at the inaugural International Aviation Exhibition in [[Prague]]. Its reception there was so enthusiastic that Czechoslovak president [[Tomáš Masaryk]] awarded Avia a 100,000 [[Czechoslovak koruna|CSK]] development grant.

The BH-1 was subsequently rebuilt with a [[Gnome Omega]] [[rotary engine]] and was finally able to fly with two people aboard. It was known as the '''BH-1 bis''' in this configuration, and in 1921 won the Czechoslovak national cross-country rally with an average speed of 125&nbsp;km/h (78&nbsp;mph) over the 860&nbsp;km (536&nbsp;mi) course. The aircraft was damaged in a crash the following spring and was never repaired, having been surpassed by improved designs.

In 2004, Marcel Sezemský built a flying replica of the aircraft, powered by a [[Walter Mikron]] engine.

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==Specifications (BH-1 exp)==
[[File:Avia_BH-1_3-view_Les_Ailes_October_13,1921.png|thumb|Avia BH-1 3-view drawing from Les Ailes October 13, 1921]]
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = met

|crew=one pilot
|capacity=one passenger intended
|length m=5.7
|length ft=18
|length in=8
|span m=10.08
|span ft=33
|span in=1
|wing area sqm=10.4
|wing area sqft=112
|empty weight kg=270
|empty weight lb=595
|gross weight kg=490
|gross weight lb=1,080

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Austro Daimler]] inline 4 engine, liquid cooled
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->26-29
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->35-40
|max speed kmh=137
|max speed mph=85
|ceiling m=3,500
|ceiling ft=11,483
}}

<!-- ==See also== -->
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->

|related=<!-- related developments -->

|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->

|sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate -->
'''BH-1''' -
[[Avia BH-2|BH-2]] -
[[Avia BH-3|BH-3]] -
[[Avia BH-4|BH-4]]

|lists=<!-- related lists -->

|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}

==References==
{{commons category|Avia BH-1}}
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=86 }}
* {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 889 Sheet 86 }}
* [http://avia.vyrobce.cz/ vyrobce.cz]

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{{AVIA aircraft}}
{{Czech aircraft}}

[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:1920s Czechoslovak sport aircraft]]
[[Category:Avia aircraft|BH-01]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1920]]