Tatra T-101.2 Airplane

Our T.101 replica (known as T-101.2) has been produced according to the original plans and other documentation for the T–101.1 aeroplane, and it differs only a little from the original.

Some of the differences between T–101.1 and T–101.2 are down to modern technological reasons, especially where old technologies have been replaced with modern ones, for example the replacement of flame welding with argon–arc welding. Some materials were replaced with more modern ones in order to spare production costs, fibre glass and carbon composites being used in just a few cases.

Some changes also had to be made in order to comply with modern aviation authority standards. Thus in several cases the primary structure had to be modified, to fulfil all strength requirements laid down in modern day legislation. This replica is equipped with a modern electrical system, radios and a transponder. It is also equipped with strobe lights and other equipment essential for night/poor visibility flying.

The replica will be powered by an original Tatra T–100 engine (p.n. 006, year of production 1938). The restoration and overhaul of this engine has been completed with the help of TATRA Ltd and the National Technical Museum in Prague.

Interesting facts

• Biggest one-piece wooden wing in Czechoslovakia and also probably in Europe before World War Two, with 13 meters span the wing is one continuous unit from wingtip to wingtip. The wing is of a quite complex design, with an arrow trapezoidal shape, aerodynamically and geometrically twisted (washout) and of course with dihedral.
• The aeroplane has 500 litres of fuel in its tanks.
• The aeroplane has all together 11 tanks. 8 of them are placed in the wing (4 left and 4 right). There are 3 tanks placed in the fuselage, two of them are storage tanks (135 and 45 litres) and the third is a small connecting one (5 litres), through which fuel from the wings goes to the engine.
• Almost 60% of the take–off weight is useful load. The empty aeroplane weighs 500 kg, the take–off weight being 1100 kg. Due to these figures, the aeroplane was a highly respected design in 1938 and remains outstanding even in the present day, 70 years after the aircraft was designed.
• With all tanks full, the endurance of this aeroplane is over 30 hours flying time.
• With all tanks full, the still-air range is almost 5000 km.
• Ceiling of the aeroplane is almost 8000 m.
• T–101.2 is the second example of the T–101 to be built. It is equipped with an original Tatra T–100 engine (p.n. 006, year of production 1938), on which a full restoration was completed with help of TATRA Ltd and the National Technical Museum in Prague.