IAR 90
The IAR-90 was a proposed Romanian twin-jet liaison aircraft developed in 1968–1969. Designed by a team of engineers at the Aircraft Repair Plant in Bacău (U.M. 02640),[1] currently Aerostar.[2] The project aimed to create a versatile aircraft for military and civilian purposes. The project was abandoned in mid-1969 due to political decisions and logistical challenges.
Design and Development
[edit]The IAR-90 was conceived as a lightweight liaison aircraft with a takeoff weight of 4 tons. It featured a high-mounted trapezoidal wing, a T-tail configuration, and a circular fuselage. The aircraft was designed to accommodate six to eight passengers and two pilots. Two engine configurations were proposed: the french Aubisque 1A or the british Bristol-Siddeley BS-358 turbofan engines, but no procurement agreements were finalized.
The design team, led by Teodor Zanfirescu, completed approximately 20–30% of the technical design. However, the project faced setbacks due to the lack of engine availability and shifting priorities toward military aircraft.
Intended Roles
[edit]The IAR-90 was designed for a variety of roles, including:
- Rapid transport of personnel and materials.
- Medical evacuation (3–4 patients).
- Aerial photogrammetry.
- Training and liaison missions.
- Rapid freight transport.
Cancellation
[edit]The project was abandoned in mid-1969 following a decision by the Romanian government to prioritize military aircraft development. The IAR-90 never progressed beyond the design phase. The engineers involved in the project were reassigned to other aviation initiatives, including the IAR-93 fighter-bomber developed in collaboration with Yugoslavia.
Specifications
[edit]Data from [3]
General characteristics
- Capacity: 6-8
- Length: 12.95 m (42 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.775 m (12 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 18 m2 (190 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,390 kg (5,269 lb)
- Gross weight: 4,000 kg (8,818 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Aubisque 1A
- Powerplant: 2 × Bristol-Siddeley BS-358
Performance
- Range: 1,210 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
- Wing loading: 225 kg/m2 (46 lb/sq ft)
References
[edit]- ^ Opriș, Petre (2021). Armată, spionaj și economie în România (1945-1991) [Military, espionage and economy in Romania (1945-1991)] (in Romanian). Bucharest: Editura Trei. p. 239. ISBN 978-606-40-0806-0.
- ^ Leoveanu, Grigore (2025-05-04). "IAR 90". IAR93.ro. Archived from the original on 2025-05-04. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ Opriș, Petre (2021). Armată, spionaj și economie în România (1945-1991) [Military, espionage and economy in Romania (1945-1991)] (in Romanian). Bucharest: Editura Trei. p. 241. ISBN 978-606-40-0806-0.