IAR-80/81

[BogdanPatrascu]

IAR-80/81 was the FARR's (Royal Romanian Air Force) best homemade product. In early 1941, during the first stages of operation "Barbarossa", Romania's fighters head no match between the Russian fighters. A "Rata" (I-16 Polikarpov)pilot's worst nightmare was, beside Bf-109, the IAR-80.
The statistics speak for themselves:by the end of 1941, the FARR obtaind 257 victorys, of whitch, 96 Ratas were shot down (confirmed kills), for only 22 loses.:)
In the batlle of Stalingrad they were used, also, as dive-bombers (IAR-81).

[Victor]

Actually the first IAR-81 dive bomber mission was flown on 15 October 1941 against the Odessa harbor area.

[BogdanPatrascu]

You are right about IAR-81 bopi, Victor. The first series of planes (91-105) were used in late 1941. In the Stalingrad campaign there were used as ground attack planes too, but not for the first time, of course.

[Victor]

I think only 6 IAR-81s saw action in 1941, not the whole batch.

[GregP]

I drew the IAR 81C and it is posted in "Greg's Drawings" on the first page ... a neat aircraft that used the PZL-11 as a starting point, which itself was a development of earlier fighters (PZL-7/9). It could have been the Japanese A6M Zero of Europe, and WAS a formidable opponent for any enemy. Ask the Americans on the Ploesti raid!

I salute the Industria Aeronautica Romana IAR-80/81A/B/C as a Great Plane that has never received just praise.

That is what this forum is all about.

OK, now someone make a replica with a reliable engine and FLY it on the airshow circuit!