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IAR-80 Fighter Aircraft

Most famous Romanian fighter aircraft during the World War II.

The Romanian IAR-80 fighter aircraft project was initiated in 1937, as a

private venture, at the aircraft factory in Brasov – IAR (Industria

Aeronautica Romana).

The first prototype was manufactured in spring 1938 and performed the

maiden flight in 1939. This prototype had an open cockpit and was armed

with two Browning FN 7.92 mm machine guns mounted on the wings.

The engine equipping the aircraft was type IAR K14 II C32 – 870 HP.

The Romanian Government ordered 100 aircraft of this type at the end of

1939 and other 100 aircraft in 1940. Delivery started in February 1940,

with the aircraft equipped with 960 HP engines (IAR K-14 III C-36) and

armed with four Browning FN machine guns (2,400 7.92 mm rounds in

total). Later on, new K-14-1000 (1025 HP) was installed as well as two

additional machine guns.

The production improvements after the first 200 aircraft included:

� 13.2 mm machine guns

� 20 mm guns (Icaria/Oerlikon)

� bomb mounts (up to 225 kg bomb) for the diver bomber versions

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Specifications

Dimensions: wingspan 10.0 – 10.7 m (32 ft 1 in)

length 8.9 m (32 ft)

height 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)

Powerplant: K14-1000 14 cylinder air-cooled double-row radial,

1,000 hp

Max. speed: 510 km/h (317 mph) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

Range: 940 km

Climb to 1,000 m: 1 min. 20 sec.

Climb to 4,000 m: 5 min. 40 sec.

Ceiling: 10,500 m (34,500 ft)

Armament: IAR-80B: 4 x FN 7.92 mm guns, 2 x 13.2 mm cannon

Number built: 346 (IAR-81 diver-bomber included)