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Romania's Industria Aeronautica Romania IAR 80 fighter1

IAR 80 fighter:
Romania's IAR 80 fighter

IAR 80A fighter1:
Romania's IAR 80A fighter

Design

The Industria Aeronautica Romania (IAR) designed the IAR 80 to be a replacement for the Polish PZL P.24E that had been licensed built.1

Tail

Both the IAR 80 and IAR 81 had tail skids instead of a tail wheel.1

Prototype

The IAR 80 prototype first flew in April 1939.1 It had an IAR K 14-II engine (900 HP) which were based on the Gnome-Rhône 14 engine.1

Production

Production started in the spring of 1940 and ended in late 1943.1

Variants

Usage

The IAR 80s and IAR 81s were primarily used on the Eastern Front until they were withdrawn to defend Bucharest and the Ploesti oilfields.1

Post World War II

The IARs were in service until 1949.1 Some of these were converted in to IAR 80C trainers and were used until 1952.1

  Industria Aeronautica Romania IAR 801 Industria Aeronautica Romania IAR 80A1 Industria Aeronautica Romania IAR 80B1 Industria Aeronautica Romania IAR 80C1 Industria Aeronautica Romania IAR 811
Type Fighter bomber1        
Crew 11        
Engine (Type)   IAR K 14-1000 (Gnome-Rhône)1 IAR K 14-1000 (Gnome-Rhône)1   IAR K 14-1000 (Gnome-Rhône)1
Cylinders   Radial 141 Radial 141   Radial 141
Cooling          
HP   1,0251 1,0251   1,0251
Propeller blades   31 31   31
Fuel capacity          
Dimensions          
Span 34' 6"1
10.51 m1
       
Length 29' 5"1
8.97 m1
       
Height 11' 10"1
3.6 m1
       
Wing area          
Weight          
Empty   3,930 lb1
1,783 kg1
    4,685 lb1
2,125 kg1
Loaded   5,489 lb1
2,490 kg1
    6,768 lb1
3,070 kg1
Performance          
Speed          
Speed @ 14,765' /
4,500 m
      314 mph1
505 kph1
311 mph1
500 kph1
Speed @ 22,965' /
7,000 m
      342 mph1
550 kph1
337 mph1
542 kph1
Cruising speed          
Climb          
Climb to 16,405' /
5,000 m
      6.6 minutes1 6.5 minutes1
Service ceiling       34,450'1
10,500 m1
 
Range       454 miles1
730 km1
 
Range with drop tanks         640 miles1
1,030 km1
Armament          
Wings   6: 7.92 mm MG1 4: 7.92 mm MG1
2: 13.2 mm MG1
4: 7.92 mm MG1
2: 20 mm1
 
Bombs         4: 110 lb1
4: 50 kg1

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
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