VEF I-16
The VEF I-16 was a prototype Latvian fighter aircraft designed by Kārlis Irbītis and produced by VEF in 1939. Development was halted by the Soviet occupation of Latvia and subsequent purges of VEF personnel. The only example built was later captured by German forces and tested by the Luftwaffe.
[edit] Description
The I-16 was of conventional monoplane layout with a supercharged and air-cooled V-12 engine of Czech origin, a two-bladed propeller, a blown canopy, and a low set wing with rounded wingtips. The prototype had fixed undercarriage with aerodynamic fairings, but production models were to have retractable landing gear. While unarmed, there were provisions for two Browning machine guns in the fuselage, along with the ability to carry one additional gun under each wing.
[edit] Specifications (I-16)
Data from Latvia's Little Hawk [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 7.30 m (23 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 8.23 m (27 ft 0 in)
- Height: 2.70 m[2] (8 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 11.43 m² (123.0 ft²)
- Empty weight: 1,100 kg (2,420 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,540 kg (3,388 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Walter Sagitta I-SR air-cooled, inverted V12 engine, 403 kW (540 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 483 km/h (261 knots, 300 mph) at 7,900 m (25,900 ft)
- Range: 805 km (438 nmi, 500 miles)
- Service ceiling: 8,100 m (26,600 ft)
- Wing loading: 136 kg/m² (28 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 220 W/kg (0.13 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: 2x 7.9 mm Browning machine guns
[edit] References
- Davis, Chuck. "Latvia's Little Hawk". Air Enthusiast, Forty-eight, December 1992 to February 1993. ISSN 0143 5450. pp. 58–64.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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