IAR80, etc., - Handling characteristics?

To some extent, you are right Cantacuzino.
I just had a look in the book "Vanatorul IAR80 - Istoria unui erou necunoscut" by Dan Antoniu and George Cicos (Modelism, 2000). On page 46, there is a description of the system fitted for opening the canopy beginning with the Series 241 aircraft. The reason quoted was that at speeds exceeding 250Km/h, the canopy could no longer be opened. To assist the pilot in opening the canopy, a pneumatic piston was fitted to the rear canopy guide rod (that "third rod" placed inside the fuselage) which slid the canopy back on its rods. However, there is a proviso in the text: in case of pneumatic system failure or damage to the rails, this "power-assisted" opening system was useless.
In my opnion, the perfect solution would have been to fit some sort of quick release mechanism (either explosive bolts or a mecahanical catch) to jettison the canopy by separating the rods from the fuselage.
HTH
Radu

In my opinion the perfect solution would have been the ejection seat.

Radub, don't forget that IAR 80 was a 1938 design and obsolete in '43-'44. The hidraulic piston release sistem was only an easy compromise. The starting production of Bf-109 at IAR Brasov was more important than developing sofisticated canopy releasing devices for the obsolete IAR 80-81.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on November 09, 2005 10:40 am

Carol but I didn't say that or at least that is not what I intented to let you understand... aparently there was a missunderstanding

Carol but I didn't say that or at least that is not what I intented to let you understand... aparently there was a missunderstanding

Then probably I misunderstood you.

Here is a note found in an I.A.R.-Brasov document, dated 12 Dec. 1942:
"Difficulty was experienced in opening the I.A.R. 80's cockpit canopy at speeds higher than 350 km/h. Therefore currently work is being done in designing a new canopy, which has flat sides, which can be opened in need. Parallel to this, work is also being done on a system, which opens the canopy with the help of compressed air."

Gen. Dénes