Question on G.Mociornita's IAR-81(alied IAR-81)

Hello guys!

I gotta build a model of IAR-81 s/n 426(or 429 it varies in different sources) flown by Lt.av. Gheorghe Mociornita and crashed on 04.21.1945.
Here is a profile by B. Patrascu

But I cant find any photo-confirmation of this a/c. Could anyone help me to find any photo of it? It is a first question.

The second question is: Are there any adequate photos of alied IAR-81(2ww participant) with bomb racks?

MFG, Mikhail

That profile is not entirely accurate.

There is no evidence of any kind that the I.A.R.81-C was ever flown with bombs. The wing-load factor was too high. It appears that most (if not all) I.A.R.81-C were released from the factory fitted with bomb racks in the wings and centreline, but the centreline rack was soon removed to reduce drag. The underwing racks were used for drop-tanks.

Slt.Av. Gheorghe Mociornita was killed when 426 crashed on 21 April 1945 near Vlcnov/Ungherski Brod in Czecholsovakia. The tailplane and the engine cowl of this aircraft are on display in the Military Museum in Bucharest. Strangely, the engine cowl is still yellow. It should have been green by that stage of the war. That is still a bit of mystery.

There is no photo of this aircraft around the time of the fatal crash, but it stands to reason that it wore roundels, a white ring and white wingtips and the engine cowl should have been overpainted green. There are a number of photos of 426 taken after a crash on 28 May 1944 when it was still wearing Eastern Front markings. Hopefully, these will appear in the new book on the I.A.R. that will be published this summer.

There are a few photos of the I.A.R.81 fitted with bombs, but the I.A.R.81 was quite different from I.A.R.81-C as illustrated in the profile you posted. The I.A.R.81 was used in a number of dive-bombing missions during the war, including one recorded case of an anti-shipping attack over the Black Sea. The efficiency of the I.A.R.81 as a dive bomber was called into doubt by the end of 1943 and most of them were pulled out of operational service and ended up in aviation schools or were modified as I.A.R.80-M.

HTH
Radu

The I.A.R. 81C was a heavy fighter, in 1945 used for ground attack (as the type was unfit for the fighter role).

There is no photographic evidence of the I.A.R. 80/81 using drop fuel tanks, either.

Gen. Dénes

There is no photograph of any I.A.R.80/81 with drop tanks. But the capability to use them was still there. There are also a number of recorded flights with drop tanks.

But maybe I should rephrase what I said...

Most (if not all) I.A.R.81-C left the factory with a central bomb rack and wing racks. As the name imolies, it was designed to be a dive bomber, but because of the high wing load factor, it was relegated to fighter duties. The central bomb rack was usually removed to reduce drag, but a great number of I.A.R.81-C still kept their central bomb rack, as evidenced by a large number of photos. In at least one case, the case of 381, the complete central bomb rack was still fitted in August 1950.

What I tried to say was that even though the central bomb rack was often removed from I.A.R.81-C, the wing racks were kept, but not for use as bomb carriers, but rather as drop tank carriers. I am yet to see a single photo of a I.A.R.81-C without wing racks. Also, quite visible in a number of photos, is the removable cap over the fuel line intake for the drop tanks. That in the end the wing racks were never used for drop tanks is a completely different issue - the capability to carry the drop tanks was still there irrespective of whether it was utilised or not.

Radu

First of all, thanks guys for detailed responce, I didn't even expect...
Guys. I 'm a little bit confused
Previously I was going to build IAR-80 and IAR-81. The main idea was to build as different a/c as possible, so I chose axis I.Milu's IAR-80(s/n 42) and allied Mociornita's IAR-81C (s/n426). And was going to arm the IAR-81с with bombs. As I see I was on the wrong way(especially if there is no photo confirmation of the profile I've posted)

Well, now I decided to build another allied 81C s/n 397. Would it be correct if I will leave the central bombrack? Or there is a photo of this a/c from the frond side and shows that I'm wrong?
Btw, are there any photos of alied IAR-81bopi?

PS: Radu are you the autor of this book?


This post has been edited by adlersieg on April 01, 2011 04:56 pm

Hi,
Yes, that is my book, but the cover is just a mock-up put together by the publisher before I gave them the info for the cover, so ignore it (or that profile...).
If you can wait a few more months, you will be able to find in it a lot of photos and info that will (hopefully) clarify a lot of things. The multitude of sub-variants of I.A.R.80/81 is truly mind-boggling, so it is easy to be confused.

The only known photo of 397 does not show whether it still had the central bomb rack or not at the time when the photo was taken. BUT, even if it had a central rack it is wrong to put a bomb in that rack, just like with any other I.A.R.81-C.

I do not know of any photos of any I.A.R.81 decorated with roundels and carrying bombs in any positions. By the autumn of 1944, most I.A.R.81 were converted to I.A.R.80-M.

HTH
Radu

But my hands are itching to handle it right now But I'll wait for

Yes, I've got it. I'll just make a rack but I wont load it with a bomb

That's pity

Anyway, I'll keep my hand on pulse and will try to get your book tru one friend of mine from Lugoj

This post has been edited by adlersieg on April 01, 2011 08:52 pm

adlersieg if you're leaving outside Romania the easiest way to get ahold of the book is from here imo : http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/97819...and-Iar.81-AG03

They have free shipping worldwide and you can also choose to be notified when it comes out.

That's pity

Maybe some pictures will surface, you never know.

The I.A.R.81 was phased out of use as a bomber by the time Romanian markings changed in 1944, but there is at least one recorded use of the I.A.R.81 as a dive bomber in August 1944 when Slt.Av. Vasile Mirila of Esc.45Vt. based in Urleasca bombed the Focsani casemate while flying No.101. When that mission took place, it wore crosses, but it is extremely likely that it was redecorated with cockades in September of the same year.

As I said, wait for the book, there may be something in it that meets your requirements.

HTH
Radu

Me again... I just promoted Mirila.
He was actually an Adjutant Aviator Sef, not a Sublocotenent Aviator.
Radu

Can you give some more details about this book, the usual parameters as type, date of release, where could be found and bought, etc.

Can you give some more details about this book, the usual parameters as type, date of release, where could be found and bought, etc.

Red Baron, it is just a regular old-fashioned paper book that will be available in "all good bookstores". It is a technical book describing the aircraft from a technical point of view, explaining the versions, airframe details, systems, camouflage, etc.
It can be pre-ordered from the publisher's website http://www.sampublications.com/ (Aviation Guide section)
You will be able to buy it from any retailer that lists on www.bookfinder.com
I am certain that it will also be available from a number of retailers in Romania - one has already shown interest (more will be revealed in due time).
I may even sell some autographed copies.
HTH
Radu

I've looked at the website and the book / magazine is due out in July, give or take.

I did not fully understand from your message, if you will have some copies of your own to sell (w/ or w/o autograph) or all orders should be directed towards that British publisher (SAM Publications). I could pre-order it now I guess and save any trouble, but if you will have a personal batch of books, I would acquire it from you, since you are (based in/) from Romania (aka Rumania ) or aren't you?

Well, what advice would you give me... or to my clone for that matter?

No need to be a smartalec.

You know... if you are interested in the subject, just buy the book.

Leave your previous arguments in the threads where they belong.

I am willing to offer my help, and I have done so in this thread and others, but all goes bad when people start getting personal. And there is no need for you to get personal here.

Radu

May I add only that: I respect the topic and I wont hijack it with a message that would be considered off-topic and may be deleted - a message that would be qualified as personal for sure, since the previous one has nothing to do with that notion, as everyone can see. BUT... I will reply to your message when the appropriate opportunity arises, so I owe you one (at least)

This post has been edited by RedBaron on April 03, 2011 05:43 pm