Ikarus S-49

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Ikarus S-49
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Role fighter-bomber
Manufacturer Ikarus Aircraft factory
Designer Kosta Sivcev, Svetozar Popovic, Slobodan Zrnic
Introduction 1946
Retired 1961
Primary user Yugoslav Air Force
Number built 158

The Ikarus S-49 was one of the first fighter aircraft produced in Yugoslavia after World War II by the Ikarus Aircraft factory. It was a conventional, low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable tailwheel undercarriage and bore a strong resemblance to the Yakovlev Yak-9, although it was in fact a new design.

Development

After the Resolution of Informbiro in 1948 and the resulting breakup with the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia was forced to rely on its domestic military industry. The same constructors that built the Rogozarski IK-3 before the war, engineers Kosta Sivcev, Slobodan Zrnic and Svetozar Popovic, used existing technical documentation of the IK-3 to construct a new fighter aircraft, the Ikarus S-49. The first prototype of the S-49A flew in June 1949. The first operational aircraft were delivered to combat units at the beginning of 1950.

The S-49A was of mixed construction, with Soviet built VK-105 engines which were no longer available after 1948. Therefore, it was decided to produce a new version of the aircraft powered by the similar French Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17 engine. Because of the bigger and heavier engine, the new aircraft had to be of all-metal construction with a much longer nose. While the aircraft was mainly built by Ikarus, the wings and tail were built by the SOKO factory in Mostar.[1] The armament remained the same as with the Ikarus S-49A and it consisted of one 20 mm Mauser MG-151/20 autocannon produced by Germany during World War II and two 12.7 mm Colt Browning machine guns. In addition, under wing racks for two 50 kg bombs or four 127 mm HVAR missiles were provided.

At the beginning of 1952, the Ikarus S-49C was introduced into the units of the Yugoslav Air Force. About 130 S-49C were produced during the 1950s and they remained in service until 1961.[1]

Variants

Former military operators

Ikarus S-49A - 46 aircraft (1949–1957)

Ikarus S-49C - 112 aircraft (1952–1961)

Aircraft on display

Serbia

Both variants of Ikarus S-49 A and C are on display.[2]

Specifications (Ikarus S-49C)

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters [1]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 628 km/h (339 knots, 390 mph) at 1,525 m (5,000 ft)
  • Range: 690 km (373 nm, 429 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
  • Climb to 6,000 m (19,700 ft): 6 min 54 sec [4]

Armament

References

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