IAR 80

IAR 80
Country	Romania
Role	Fighter aircraft
First flight	12 April 1939
Built	448

The IAR 80 was a Romanian World War II low-wing monoplane, all-metal monocoque fighter and ground-attack aircraft. When it first flew, in 1939, it was comparable to contemporary designs being deployed by the airforces of the most advanced military powers such as the Hawker Hurricane and Bf 109E. Production problems and lack of available armament delayed entry of the IAR 80 into service until 1941. It remained in frontline use until May 1945.

Source: IAR 80 on Wiki

IAR 80 Walk Around
Photographer	Unknow
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	30

IAR 80 1

IAR 80 2

IAR 80 3

IAR 80 5

IAR 80 6

IAR 80 7

IAR 80 8

IAR 80 9

IAR 80 10

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Wait, Searching IAR 80 photos for you…

General Characteristics

The IAR 80 was a Romanian low-wing monoplane fighter designed and built by Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR) in the late 1930s. Developed to fulfill a national need for a modern indigenous fighter, it was comparable to early versions of contemporary aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane and Bf 109E upon its first flight in 1939. Its design evolved throughout its production life to address issues like initial light armament and poor rearward pilot visibility, leading to variants with heavier weapons and reinforced structures. It was used extensively by the Royal Romanian Air Force (ARR) on the Eastern Front and later for the defense of the Ploiești oilfields.

Property	Typical Value (IAR 80 / Early Variants)
Role	Single-Seat Fighter / Fighter-Bomber (IAR 81)
National Origin	Romania
Manufacturer	Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR)
First Flight	April 1939
In Service (ARR)	1941–1949 (Trainer use until 1952)
No. Built (Total)	~450 (including IAR 81 variants)
Crew	1 (Pilot)
Length	8.97 m (29 ft 5 in)
Wingspan	10.5–11.0 m (34 ft 5 in – 36 ft 1 in) (Varies by variant)
Max Takeoff Weight	~2,700–3,070 kg (5,950–6,770 lb) (Varies by variant)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: 1 x IAR K14-III / K14-1000A 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine (licensed version of the French Gnome-Rhône 14K Mistral Major).
Power Output: Ranging from 650 kW (870 hp) in prototypes up to 764 kW (1,025 hp) in later production models.
Maximum Speed: 500–510 km/h (310–317 mph) at 4,000 m.
Climb Rate: Approximately 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 5 minutes 50 seconds to 6 minutes.
Construction: All-metal monocoque fuselage and wing construction, noted for its strong structure.
Limitations: Lacked an automated propeller pitch regulator and higher-altitude performance began to lag behind newer enemy designs as the war progressed.

Armament and Roles

Armament (IAR 80 base): 4 x 7.92 mm FN-Browning machine guns (wing-mounted).
Armament (IAR 80A/B/C): Armament was progressively increased and strengthened:
- IAR 80A: 6 x 7.92 mm machine guns.
- IAR 81B: 4 x 7.92 mm machine guns and 2 x 20 mm Ikaria (Oerlikon license) cannons.
- IAR 81C: 2 x 20 mm Mauser MG 151 cannons and 4 x 7.92 mm machine guns.
Dive Bomber Role (IAR 81): Variants were equipped with a centerline **bomb displacement trapeze** for a 250 kg (550 lb) bomb, plus two 50 kg (110 lb) underwing bombs.
Operational History: Used extensively on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Air Force. Later, it became critical for home defense against high-altitude American bomber raids (B-24 Liberators) targeting the Ploiești oilfields, where it achieved notable successes against unescorted formations, often excelling in low-altitude dogfights.