PTO-4

Last updated
PTO-4
Samoliot RTO-4A na liotnom pole.jpg
РТО-4А
General information
Type Trainer
Manufacturer Aviotöökoda, Tallinn
Designer
Voldemar Post, Rein Tooma and Otto Org
Primary user Estonian Air Force
Luftwaffe
Number built8
History
Manufactured1938
Introduction date1938
Retired1944

The PTO-4 was an Estonian-designed military training aircraft of World War II.

Contents

In 1938, the Estonian aviation engineers Voldemar Post, Rein Tooma and Otto Org, previously responsible for the PON-1 trainer, designed and built the PTO-4 training aircraft. [1] It was a two-seat low-winged monoplane powered by a De Havilland Gypsy of 120 hp, with a fixed undercarriage that could be fitted with wheels or skis. [2] The aircraft could fly at a maximum speed of 245 km per hour and had a ceiling of 5,000 meters. [3] On 12 October 1938, the PTO-4 was taken into service of the Air Force. [4]

The Estonian Air Force received two PTO-4s (serial numbers 161 and 162), one with an open cockpit and the other an enclosed cockpit. [1] Six examples were in civil use, [5] of which five were used by the Eesti Aeroklubi (EAK), a flying club controlled by the Estonian Military. [1]

Four examples surviving from the Soviet occupation of Estonia (1940–41) were operated by the German Luftwaffe, being operated by a unit manned by Estonian volunteers (initially called Sonderstaffel Buschmann and later 1./SAGr.127) based at Reval-Ülemiste airfield. They were operated as training and liaison aircraft as well for coastal patrol over the shores of the Baltic. [6]

Operators

Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Germany

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gerdessen 1982, p.71.
  2. "Aircraft template".
  3. "Aircraft template".
  4. "Aircraft template".
  5. "Aircraft template".
  6. Gerdessen 1982, pp.74–75.