The Aero A.42 was a Czechoslovakian bomber aircraft of 1929 that was only ever produced in prototype form. For its day, it was an advanced design, with a sleek monoplane configuration. However, the Czechoslovak Air Force was not satisfied with it for a number of reasons. In particular, the aircraft's take-off and landing runs were felt to be excessively long, and crew complained about the cramped cabin. The air force suggested a set of modifications to Aero, including replacing the wooden wing with a metal one, but Aero discontinued development.

On September 20, 1930, one of the two prototypes set international speed records of 253.42 km/h (157.47 mph; 136.84 kn) over a 1,000 km (620 mi) closed circuit, carrying payloads of 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) and 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).^[1]

One prototype was used by the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1938, then by the Slovak Air Force. Probably it was scrapped in 1940.^[2]

The A.42 was a single-engined high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed landing gear.

Data from ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: three, pilot, observer/bombardier, radio operator/gunner
• Length: 13.80 m (45 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 20.82 m (68 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 59 m² (640 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 2,940 kg (6,482 lb)
• Gross weight: 4,740 kg (10,450 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Isotta Fraschini Asso 750 W18 water-cooled piston engine, 600–750 kW (800–1,000 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
• Cruise speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn)
• Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
• Time to altitude: 50 min to 5,000 m (16,000 ft)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in ventral position^{[citation needed]}
  • 1 × 7.9 mm machine gun in dorsal turret^{[citation needed]}
• Bombs: 200 kg (441 lb) of small bombs^[4]