VEF I-16

__NOTOC__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.

Description

The I-16 was of conventional monoplane layout with an supercharged and air-cooled V-12 engine of Czech origin, a two-bladed propellor, 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.

pecifications (I-16)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=One
length main=7.30 m
length alt=23 ft 11 in
span main=8.23 m
span alt=27 ft 0 in
height main=2.70 m
height alt=8 ft 10 in
area main=11.4 m²
area alt=122 ft²
empty weight main=1,100 kg
empty weight alt=2,420 lb
loaded weight main=1,550 kg
loaded weight alt=3,410 lb
max takeoff weight main=kg
max takeoff weight alt= lb
engine (prop)=Walter Sagitta I-SR
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=343 kW
power alt=460 hp

max speed main=483 km/h
max speed alt=301 mph
range main=805 km
range alt=503 miles
ceiling main=8,100 m
ceiling alt=26,568 ft
climb rate main=m/s
climb rate alt= ft/min
loading main=136 kg/m²
loading alt=28 lb/ft²
power/mass main=220 W/kg
power/mass alt=0.13 hp/lb

armament=
* 2x .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns

External links

* [http://latvianaviation.com/VEF_I-16.html VEF IRBITIS I-16] at [http://latvianaviation.com/ LatvianAviation.com]

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=

sequence=
VEF I-11 -
VEF I-12 -
VEF I-14 -
VEF I-15 -VEF I-16 -
VEF I-17 -
VEF I-18 -
VEF I-19

lists=

see also=