Photograph:
Hillson Praga VH-UXR (c/n HA-22) at Camden, NSW in about 1938 (Frank Walters collection)
Country of origin:
Czechoslovakia
Description:
Two-seat light touring aircraft
Power Plant:
(United Kingdom built)
One 30 kw (40 hp) Aeronca JAP J-99 Mk 1A two-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 14.12 m² (152 sq ft)
- Max speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
- Cruising speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 107 m/min (350 ft/min)
- Ceiling: 3,597 m (11,800 ft)
- Climb to 305 m(1,000 ft): 3 mins
- Range: 451 km (280 miles)
- Empty weight: 265 kg (584 lb)
- Loaded weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
History:
The Hillson Praga E.114 was designed by Jaroslav Slechta in Czechoslovakia and initially built by CKD Praga, where it became known as the Air Baby. The prototype (OK-PGA) was first flown in 1934 and in that year was shown at the Paris Air Show. The fuselage was built up of four light spruce longerons, together with single stringers running down the top and bottom surfaces, giving it a hexagonal cross-section; whilst the tailplane and elevators were of steel tube which was fabric covered. The wing was spruce and plywood box, used in conjunction with spruce and plywood ribs, which was plywood covered.
Production of the E.114 began in 1935, power plant being the 29 kw (39 hp) Praga B engine. A later model, known as the E.115 was released, this having a 44 kw (59 hp) Praga D engine.
Two Pragas took part in the Sternflug flight to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. One example in 1936 flown by H L Brool flew from London, England to Capetown, South Africa in 135 flying hours over a period of 14 days, covering a distance of 14,722 km (9,148 miles).
After World War II Praga built the E.114D, ten being completed with the Praga D engine; and the E.114M, of which 95 were completed with the Walter Micron III engine. Production also took place at the Letov facility, some 26 Model E.114Ms being completed. A variant known as the E.117 with a tricycle undercarriage did not proceed.
In 1936 an example arrived in the United Kingdom and manufacturing rights were acquired by F Hills & Sons Ltd of Trafford Park, Manchester, the aircraft being flown from the Barton aerodrome. By mid 1937 three aircraft a week were being completed and they were supplied to purchasers both in the United Kingdom and overseas. However, the type was not a great success, partly due to the full cantilever wing which could not be folded, and problems with the Praga engine.
A number were operated by Aero Clubs in the United Kingdom, including Ipswich, North Staffordshire, Thanet and Northern Aviation School. Some 39 were built in the United Kingdom.
Three examples of the Praga were imported to this region, all by Denzil Macarthur-Onslow of Camden, NSW, trading as Light Aircraft Pty Ltd. The first (VH-UVP – c/n HA-1) was constructed by F Hills & Sons under licence from the parent company. It was test flown at Camden on 28 February 1937 and registered on 20 April that year. This aircraft, like a number of other Pragas, was fitted with a 27 kw (36 hp) Praga B two-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine. It survived to 16 April 1945 when it was destroyed in a fire at Broken Hill, NSW.
The second (VH-UXQ – c/n HA-21) was first registered on 13 July 1937 to Macarthur-Onslow and entered service with the Royal Aero Club of South Australia but it too was destroyed by fire on 19 November 1944.
The third aircraft (VH-UXR – c/n HA-22) was registered in October 1938, ownership being with Light Aircraft Pty Ltd until 11 September 1943 when it crashed.
An example of the Praga E-114M Air Baby (OK-BGL) has survived on display at the Prague Aviation Museum at Kbely in the Czech Republic.