Tatra T.101

Ringhoffer-Tatra started making aircraft in 1935, building the Avro 626 Avian and Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann under licence. In 1937 the Tatra T.001 was the first aircraft designed and built by Tatra. The T.101 was a development of that aircraft, with an increased wingspan and a larger empennage than the T.001.{{sfn|Degraef|Borremans|2012|p=29}}{{cite web |url=http://aviators.cz/en/history-of-Tatra-airplanes |title=History of Tatra airplanes |publisher=Aviators |accessdate=8 March 2012}}

Only one aircraft was built by Ringhoffer-Tatra, msn 01. It was registered OK-TAO.

The Tatra T.101 gained a number of records. In 1937 a prize was offered for the longest flight by an aircraft of Czechoslovakian origin. In 1938 Jan Ambruš and Vojtěch Matěna flew from Ruzyně Airport, Prague to Khartoum Airport, Sudan,{{sfn|Degraef|Borremans|2012|pp=28, 31–32}} a distance of {{convert|2340|nmi|km}}.{{cite web |url=http://aviators.cz/en/home |title=Welcome to Aviators.cz |publisher=Aviators |accessdate=8 March 2012}} The aircraft achieved a height record of {{convert|7113|m|ft}} in the category for two-seat aircraft with an engine capacity of less than {{convert|4|L|cuin}}. This was later raised to {{convert|7470|m|ft}}.

After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, citizens in the Czech Republic and Slovakia gained new freedom. The celebration of heritage had been suppressed under communism and the restoration of historic aircraft was forbidden by the Communist authorities. Since the revolution, interest in heritage has grown, and a number of attempts to revive industrial heritage, including aviation heritage, have been successful.{{sfn|Degraef|Borremans|2012|pp=28–29}}

One of these projects was the re-creation of the Tatra T.101 by twins Ivo and Jiří Sklenář. In the early 2000s they started researching the aircraft and discovered that the blueprints had escaped destruction. They were discovered in the state archive at Opava. A Tatra HM-504 and a Tatra T100 engine were acquired with the assistance of Tatra and the Czech {{ill|Aeronautical Research and Testing Institute|cz|Výzkumný a zkušební letecký ústav}}. These two engines were rebuilt and made into an airworthy T100 engine with the assistance of Tatra and the Czech National Technical Museum.

The process was hampered by the non-availability of spare parts, particularly cylinder valves. A new two-bladed wooden propeller was one of the first items made for the aircraft. The replica used some modern manufacturing methods and materials, such as TIG welding, carbon composites and fibreglass. Deviations from the original design were made only where required by modern aeronautical regulations. The aircraft has modern avionics and a strobe light.{{sfn|Degraef|Borremans|2012|pp=30–31}}

The {{convert|13.00|m|ftin}} span wooden wings are a one-piece unit. They were built by Jan Tobek, an ultralight aircraft maker. The wing is the largest wooden wing built in the Czech Republic since the end of World War II. The aircraft was assembled at Kunovice Airport in a hangar owned by Evektor-Aerotechnik and Let Kunovice. The aircraft was completed on 29 September 2008. After ground testing, a series of flight tests was begun in October 2009, resulting in the issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness on 1 December 2009. The replica aircraft was given msn 02.{{sfn|Degraef|Borremans|2012|pp=30–31}}

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Rekordní Tatra T-101{{sfn|Sklenář|Sklenář|1993|p=977}}

|prime units?=met

|crew=2

|length m=6.62

|length note=

|span m=13.00

|span note=

|height m=2.15

|height note=

|wing area sqm=16.4

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=NACA 23016 (modified) (root), NACA 23008 (modified) (tip)

|empty weight kg=500

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=1100

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Tatra T100

|eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine

|eng1 kw=77

|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller

|prop dia m=

|prop dia note=

|max speed kmh=215

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=190

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=1200

|range note=

|combat range km=

|combat range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range note=

|ceiling m=750

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|power/mass=

|more performance=

}}

• Tatra T.001, which the T.101 was developed from.
• Tatra T.201, which was developed from the T.101
• Zlin 26, which was developed from the T.201

{{reflist}}

• {{cite magazine |last1=Degraef |first1=Stefan |last2=Borremans |first2=Edwin |title=Moravian Silverwing: The rebirth of Tatra's Khartoum Flyer |magazine=Aeroplane |date=April 2012 |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=28–32 |issn=0143-7240}}
• {{cite magazine |last1=Sklenář |first1=Ivo |last2=Sklenář |first2=Jiří |title=Rekordní Tatra T-101 |trans-title=Record setting Tatra T-101 |magazine=Letectví + Kosmonautika |year=1993 |issue=15 |volume=LXIX |pages=975–977 |language=cs |issn=0024-1156}}

{{commons category|Tatra 101}}

• [http://aviators.cz/en/historic-gallery Images of various Tatra designed aircraft]

{{Tatra models}}

Category:Aircraft manufactured in the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia

Category:Tatra vehicles

Category:Low-wing aircraft

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft