AERO MB-200

In the mid-1930s, Czechoslovakia faced the problem of modernizing its aviation. One of the urgent tasks was the selection of a heavy bomber with a modern design. However, the domestic industry did not have enough experience in the construction of all-metal aircraft. The government of Czechoslovakia decided to purchase a bomber license of an uncomplicated construction in France, which could quickly be put into production. As the situation of French aviation was not the best at the time, the choice was very limited. After negotiations, a two-engine high-wing Marcel Bloch MB-200 BN4 bomber was selected. This plane was built in 1933, and from 1934. it was produced for the needs of the French army at the Potez, Loire, Breguet and SASO factories. At the beginning of 1935. The Czechoslovak Ministry of Defense has signed a license agreement with Potez. 300 thousand zlotys were paid for the license documentation. francs, for each plane built, the French were to be paid 12% of the price. One complete MB-200 was also ordered for tests, which were carried out in the spring of 1935. The military ordered 75 MB-200s, which were to be built in the AERO and Avia factories (in the latter, only 12 copies were built, numbered 37-48). The price of the bomber without additional fuel tanks was CZK 1,340,370, and with the tanks CZK 1,402,317. The first serial planes were completed in April 1937. The problems with licensed production were partly caused by Bloch, who in May 1936 sent 85 additional drawings, which included 183 design changes. MB-200 planes served in 81, 82, 83, 84 heavy bombers squadron of the 6th Aviation Regiment in Brno and in the 85th and 86th squadrons of the 6th Aviation Regiment in Prague. One copy, number 52, was rebuilt for photogrammetry tasks. During the conference in Munich, Czechoslovakia had 54 aircraft of this type. These planes were also built under the German occupation. They were delivered to Bulgaria and Romania, where they served together with MB-210 BN5 aircraft seized in occupied France. Technical data (for Bloch MB-200): Maximum speed: 245 km / h; maximum ceiling 8000 m, maximum range: 1020 km, weapons: fixed - 3 machine guns caliber 7.5 mm and 1200 kg of bombs.