I.A.R. 15

Possessing little more than a configurational similarity to preceding single-seat fighters of Carafoli design, the I.A.R.15 flew for the first time late in 1933. It was powered by a 600hp Gnome-Rhone 9Krse ninecylinder radial and carried an armament of two 7.7mm Vickers machine guns. The structural design followed that of the I.A.R.14. It had a welded steel-tube fuselage covered by duralumin sheet forward and fabric aft, this being mated with a three-piece wing with two duralumin spars, pine and plywood ribs and duralumin sheet skinning for the centre section with fabric covering for the outer panels. A series of five I.A.R.15s was ordered for the Aeronautica Militara, these differing from the prototype primarily in having three-bladed metal propellers in place of the two-bladed wooden unit. The speed capability of the I.A.R.15 was adjudged excellent and it established a national altitude record of 11631m in 1936. It was considered inferior to the P.Z.L. P.11, however, on the score of manoeuvrability, and no further examples were ordered.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1280 x 1024)