IAR 80 max speed question...

[PanzerKing]

Some sources state that the IAR 80 could reach a max speed of 342mph...was this speed reached at the same altitude as American bombers or is this the speed the plane usually engaged fighters at?

Thanks

[Victor]

Those sources are wrong.
Look here:
http://www.arr.go.ro/iar80.htm

Source: Vanatorul IAR-80, Dan Antoniu & George Cicos, Modelism, 2000

[PanzerKing]

The link is daed.

Anyways, the source states 342 mph at 22,000 ft, so maybe the 317 mph is at a lower altitude? How are we supposed to know which speed is right?

Thanks

[Victor]

The link is not dead. It works for me.

The IAR 14K c32 1000A engine gave its best up to 5,000 m (15,000 feet) and there the top speed was a little lower than 500 km/h.
At 18,000 – 21,000 feet the pilots remember having the feeling that the aircraft was powerless. It would have been nice if it would have had 342mph at 22,000 feet. Many pilots would have had more chances in evading the Mustangs and Lightnings and would have been alive today.

[cuski]

QUOTE

The link is not dead. It works for me. The IAR 14K c32 1000A engine gave its best up to 5,000 m (15,000 feet) and there the top speed was a little lower than 500 km/h.   At 18,000 – 21,000 feet the pilots remember having the feeling that the aircraft was powerless. It would have been nice if it would have had 342mph at 22,000 feet. Many pilots would have had more chances in evading the Mustangs and Lightnings and would have been alive today.

Hmm... interesting... according to the data I have, the IAR80 with the 14K-1000A engine was rated 487km/h (304mph) at sea level and 550km/h (343mph) at 7000m (21,000ft).

I don't know whether that's TAS or IAS though.

The P-51D was rated at 578km/h (361 mph) at sea level and 703km/h (439mph) at 7620m (22860ft)... quite a significant difference.

[PanzerKing]

Ok now the link is working for me.

Here's were I got the 342 mph figure: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/2072/IAR80.html

And if you do a search, tons of sites indicate the 342 mph...what's the truth?

[Victor]

Jason Long's article contains many mistakes and is not based on actual research in the Romanian archives. I trust mr. Antoniu and Cicos (the authors of the already mentioned source), since they have p[ut more than a decade of study into their book. It is by far a reference for any article related to this aircraft. The rest are just speculations.

[PanzerKing]

Ok thanks.

[toniyona]

As the IAR 80 was already in production, in order to maximize numbers built, wouldn't it have been better to continue experiments to fit a DB603, Jumo 213 or BMW 801?

[C-2]

I asked myself my same question.
I was answered that first the Germans would't give licence for it and that once they pot a DB on a IAR,the speed grew but the vibration was high...

[Victor]

[quote]As the IAR 80 was already in production, in order to maximize numbers built, wouldn't it have been better to continue experiments to fit a DB603, Jumo 213 or BMW 801?[/quote]

Experiment with what? Who would give IAR those engines?

[PanzerKing]

It's too bad IAR didn't know how to design and build their own engines.

[Victor]

[quote]It's too bad IAR didn't know how to design and build their own engines.[/quote]

After the man that could have very well found a way to improve the K14 engine was thrown out, there was not anyone who could do it.

[toniyona]

Some articles I read said experiments with the Jumo 213 was tried as other Romanian craft used the engine too, and it failed due to too much vibration (and from other articles this a problem when fitted to ME109's and FW190's too) as it was a bobmber engine, but if the alternative is nothing, why not keep trying.
No DB engines were supplied as there was a shortage yet; when IAR production gave way to ME109 production, DB engines would be available for them!
The BMW 801 seemed worth a try but none provided.
It seems that in the time it took to change over the production lines and the lost production that entailed, a workable solution would have gotten more planes to the front.

[PanzerKing]

[quote][quote]It's too bad IAR didn't know how to design and build their own engines.[/quote]

After the man that could have very well found a way to improve the K14 engine was thrown out, there was not anyone who could do it.[/quote]

I never knew about that, it's rather unfortunate.

Thanks