IAR 80 information...

[PanzerKing]

This was taken from a model airplane website, notice it states again the max speed is 342 mph! My question is, why are there so many contradicting sources, is the max speed really known at all?

"References:
Rumanian Air Force WW II by Denes Bernad, Squadron Signal Pubs

Rumania, like other European countries during the 1930s, was scrambling to modernize its armed forces. To bolster the Aeronautica Rumania (Rumanian Air force), the Industrial Aeronautic Rumania (IAR) produced the Polish designed PZL 11 fighter under license. After 70 machines, the PZL 11 was replaced on the assembly line by a more refined version under the designation PZL 24.

In 1938, IAR began construction on a new 600,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility. Meanwhile, a design team, drawing on experience and airframe components of the PZL fighter design, began work on a successor to the PZL.24 under the designation IAR 80. The IAR 80 was powered by an IAR 14-cylinder K 14 -111 C36 (a derivative of the French Mistral-Major engine) and flew for the first time in April of 1939. Official flight tests recorded a maximum speed of 317 mph at 13,315 ft. The go ahead was given for serial production. Rumania now had its own modern fighter.

IAR 80 deliveries began during the spring of 1942. The new fighter was now powered by the improved IAR-K14 1000A, which provided a top speed of 342 mph at 22,000 feet, and were armed with six 7.9mm Browning machine guns. IAR 80 production continued for some two years until it was supplanted by license production of the Bf 109G.

Fighting alongside the Luftwaffe during the German advances into the Soviet Union, the IAR 80 performed with distinction against Soviet fighters and bombers. But, as newer Soviet and German aircraft became available, the IAR 80 was switched to ground attack and reconnaissance missions.

IAR units were returned home as the Allied threat to the Rumanian oil fields grew. IAR units were particularly effective against the US Fifteenth Air Force's disastrous B-24 attacks on Ploesti."

http://www.squadron.com/old/iar80/iar80review.htm

[Victor]

The contradicting sources are because there is much folklore about the IAR-80. Until 1990, there was little known about it in the West, only hear-say mostly.

I will repeat this, with all my stuburness, the only source that can be trusted 100% is the book published by mr. Dan Antoniu and George Cicos in 2000. I do not think that anyone else has studied this aircraft as much as they did. I think Denes will concur.

Btw, the IAR-80 did not enter production in the spring of 1942. The first aircraft were delivered to the 8th Fighter Group in February 1941.

[PanzerKing]

So the 317 mph is official then.

Thanks

[Dénes]

QUOTE

This was taken from a model airplane website, notice it states again the max speed is 342 mph! \"References: Rumanian Air Force WW II by Denes Bernad, Squadron Signal Pubs

That quote is certainly not from my mentioned book. :!:
I couldn't find any mention in my book of the I.A.R. 80's top speed.

I will check my files for the top speed of various I.A.R. 80/81 models and post the info here, later on.

[Der Maresal]

I have a question regarding color/camo of the IAR 80 during winter - I happen to find this amazing photographs of an IAR 80 number.94, and it does not seem to have a winter coating even tough you can see where it is located.. Could be at the stalingrad front, ? :shock:

Perhaps the man in the foreground is the Pilot who's machine this belongs - who flew # 94 ? :shock:




from: http://www.florinco.com/florin/photos.htm

[Dénes]

The airman nearby the I.A.R. 80A is not necessarily the pilot. Usually, no particular airplane was assigned to a certain pilot for a longer time period.

There is no photo known showing an I.A.R. 80/81 wearing temporary white camouflage scheme.

No. 94 soldiered on until July 1947, so she had a long and probably eventful career.

[Victor]

The IAR-81 in the picture is the fourth built (the first one was 91). It most likely saw action at Odessa on 15 and 16 October within the 8th Fighter Group, when the first dive bombing missions of the IAR-81 were carried out.

In September 1942, no. 94 was part of the 59th Fighter/Dive Bomber Squadron. In early 1944 it was rearmed with two 20 mm Mauser cannons and assigned to the Base of the 2nd Fighter Flotilla. It was probably assigned to the Fighter School at Ghimbav. It was lost on 11 July 1947 by adj. av. Ion Ionita, who crash-landed it.
Source: the same Vanatorul IAR-80 by Dan Antoniu and George Cicos

The caps of the soldiers in the background indicate the 1941-42 period, but it was not at Stalingrad.

[Der Maresal]

Regarding the Cockpit Instruments on board IAR-80/81 ...were they Romanian manufactured or imported from...France/Germany?

Were they in Romanian language?

What about those on Romanian Messerschmitts? The Instruments were german definately - i know exactly what a 109 cockpit looks like and what the instruments do...

So? Who can help?

[Dénes]

A German document from 1942 mentions the top speed of the first series of I.A.R. 80s, at cruising altitude, is 500 km/h.
At 4500 m, with 70% of the fuel on board, "marching" speed is 450 km/h, at 2310 rpm.
The type reaches 4000 m in 5 minutes and 5 seconds.
You do the conversion to imperial units.

[George]

The IAR-80 No.94 was flown by Adj.Av. Mirila Vasile in the first Bopi (dive-bombing) missions at Odessa on 15 October 1941.

[Dénes]

Do you know, by any chance, if the pilot shown in the photo is indeed Adj. av. Vasile Mirila? He was an ace with 7 victories.

Dénes

P.S. Welcome to the forum, Mr. C.