Avia BH-21 T-18 of Belgian's Aviation Militaire

The Czech designers Benes and Hajn had already constructed several sesquiplanes (this is a biplane with a smal top and a large bottow wing) and the BH-21 was no exception to their ideas. It became a successful fighter in both the Czech and Belgian air arms.

Avia BH-33 prototype

As a logical evolution of the succesful BH-21, the designers Benez and Hajn developed the BH-33. With its huge radial engine, it was not as good looking as its predecessor but it certainly was a good performer.

One of the standard RAF training aircraft during the early thirties, this example is kept in airworthy condition by the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden, UK.

Cierva C.30A D-EKOP

The Spanish Juan de la Cierva pioneered autogyros, and one of the first true practical machines was the C.30. It was used both by air arms and civilians. Despite some obvious advantages over the helicopter, the autogyro never became really popular.

Fairey Fantome, L7045 company owned prototype in RAF evaluation markings

Probably one of the most beautiful biplanes ever built, it was designed in the thirties by the Belgian Marcel Lobelle, who envisaged it as a state of the art fighter for both the RAF and Belgian Air Force. Unfortunately, the days of the biplane were over and neither air arm ordered the beautiful machine.

Fiat CR.42 R-6 of Belgium's Aviation Militaire

The culmination of a whole generation of Rosatelli designed Fiat-built fighters, the CR.42 was already outmoded at the start of the second world war. Belgium, in a last-minute effort, had ordered some of these aircraft to defend the territory against a possible German invasion, but the events of May 1940 proved that these aircraft could not cope with the modern German Messerschmitts.

Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, G-22 of Belgium's Aviation Militaire

A contemporary to the Italian Fiat CR.42, the Gladiator fared no better than its Italian counterpart. The biplane design was simply at the end of its possibilities, all-metal monoplanes reigning the skies.

Hawker Hart, another of the airworthy aircraft of the Shuttleworth Collection

Hawker Tomtit, an ex-RAF training aircraft kept in airworthy condition by the Shuttleworth Collection.

Renard R.31 of Belgium's Aviation Militaire

The R.31 reconnaissance plane, a good machine in its own right, was already obsolescent at the time of the German invasion in the low lands (starting from May 10th, 1940), yet it was still in massive use in the Belgian air arm. Evidently, it stood no chance to the modern and fast German fighters and losses were consequently high.