View source for IAR-93 Vultur

{{Short description|Romanian ground-attack/interceptor aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = IAR-93 Vultur
|image = IAR-93SC aircraft.jpg
|caption = IAR-93
|type = Ground [[attack aircraft]]<br>Low level interceptor
|manufacturer = [[Avioane Craiova]]
|design_group= INCAS Romania<br>[[Vazdulnoplovno Technicki lnstitut|VTI]] [[Yugoslavia]]
|first_flight = October 31, 1974
|introduction = 1975
|retired = April 9, 1998
|status =
|primary_user = [[Romanian Air Force]]
|more_users =
|produced = 1975–1992
|number_built = 88
|unit cost =
|variants = [[Soko J-22 Orao]]
}}
The '''Avioane Craiova IAR-93 Vultur''' (''Eagle'') is a [[twinjet]], subsonic, [[close air support|close support]], [[ground attack aircraft|ground attack]] and tactical [[reconnaissance aircraft]] with secondary capability as low level [[interceptor aircraft|interceptor]]. Built as single-seat main attack version or combat capable two-seat version for advanced flying and weapon training, it was developed in 1970s by Romania and Yugoslavia to become more independent from Soviet equipment. The Romanian aircraft were built by [[Avioane Craiova|I.R.Av. Craiova]] as IAR-93, and its Yugoslav counterpart by [[SOKO|Soko]] as the [[Soko J-22 Orao]]. For Romania, the IAR-93 was intended to replace [[MiG-15]]s and [[MiG-17]]s in the fighter-bomber role.
==Development==
On May 20, 1971, [[Romania]] and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] signed the governmental agreements for the YuRom R&D programme. The program managers were Dipl. Dr. Engineer Teodor Zamfirescu for the Romanian party and Colonel Vidoje Knežević for the Yugoslav party.
The requirements called for a light subsonic aircraft for [[ground attack]] and tactical [[reconnaissance]] missions and with low level [[aerial warfare|air combat]] as a secondary capability. It was to be built on a simple structure, using locally produced equipment and avionics (but compatible with Western components), tough (able to operate on grass or damaged runways), easy to maintain, and reliable. The aircraft was of conventional twin-engine, [[dihedral (aircraft)|high mounted wing]] monoplane configuration with all flying surfaces [[swept wing|swept]]. The [[Rolls-Royce Viper]] was chosen as the powerplant, as [[SOKO]] had experience with licence-building this engine. It was originally intended that an [[afterburner]] would be developed for the Viper engines, but there were prolonged difficulties with this project, meaning that none of the pre-production aircraft featured it, and neither did early production examples. During the 1980s, both countries developed slightly different versions to take advantage of the afterburning engines that had since become available.
==Flight testing==
The Romanian single-seat prototype White 001 made its first flight, which lasted 21 minutes, on October 31, 1974, at [[Bacău]]<ref name="ACV">{{Cite web |url=http://www.acv.ro/products_en.php?m=1&s=5 |title=IAR-93 History |access-date=2009-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227081821/http://www.acv.ro/products_en.php?m=1&s=5 |archive-date=2012-02-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (simultaneously with the Yugoslav prototype at [[Batajnica Air Base]]). The aircraft was flown by Colonel Gheorghe Stănică. On September 20, 1979, the plane was lost when, during a test flight, both engines stopped, and the pilot ejected. This prompted modifications to the combustion chamber (including all aircraft already delivered).
On July 18, 1975 the aircraft was presented to [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]] on the [[Bacău]] airfield.
The DC (two-seat) prototype #003 first flew on January 23, 1977, and was lost on November 24, 1977, due to tail [[Wing flutter|flutter]]. The left elevator broke off while in level flight at {{convert|500|m}} altitude and {{convert|1,045|kph}}. The [[Martin-Baker]] Mk RU10J [[zero-zero ejection seat]]s functioned well and the two test pilots ejected safely. After this event the aft fuselage structure was reinforced.
Prototype #004 crashed at Craiova Air Base on February 20, 1979, during an [[aerobatics]] demonstration. The pilot, Capt. Eng. Dobre Stan, did not manage to eject.
On August 23, 1979, three IAR-93 (#001, #002 and #005) were first presented to the public in flight during the military parade celebrating the [[Liberation from Fascist Occupation Day|national day of Romania]] at that time.
==Variants==
* '''IAR-93A''': initial production version with non-afterburning Viper Mk 632-41 turbojets<br>15 pre-production aircraft delivered in 1979; entered service in 1981<br>26 built (#109-119 pre-production, #150-164 series) as single-seaters and 9 DC (two-seat) trainers (#005-008 pre-production, #180-184 series)
* '''IAR-93MB''': MB = Motor de Baza (basic engine). This version had the fuselage of the IAR-93B but used the non-afterburning engine of the IAR-93A<br>delivered starting with 1982<br>15 single-seaters built (#201-215)
* '''IAR-93B''': refined version with afterburning Viper Mk 633-47 engines, increased internal fuel capacity, upgraded [[hardpoint]]s and revised wing, including [[leading edge extensions]]. Also, the ventral fins, inboard [[wing fence]]s and forward fuselage [[strake (aviation)|strakes]] were removed<br>first flew in 1985; entered service in 1987<br>27 built as single-seater (#200, #216-241) and 7 DC (#600-606)
==Operators==
; Romania
* [[Romanian Air Force]] ([[Craiova Air Base|67th Fighter-Bomber Regiment]] and [[Ianca Air Base|49th Fighter-Bomber Regiment]] from [[Craiova]] and [[Ianca]] respectively)
==Lost aircraft==
Data from Romanian press and partially from [http://www.ejection-history.org.uk ejection-history.org.uk]<ref name="RL">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/Romania.htm |title=Chronological Listing of Romanian Losses & Ejections |access-date=2009-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105224207/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/Romania.htm |archive-date=2009-01-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* #002, November 24, 1977 The left elevator broke off due to flutter. Both pilots, Col. Gheorghe D. Stanica and Col. Petru Ailiesei, ejected safely.
* #003, February 20, 1979 at Craiova Air Base. Capt. Eng. Dobre Stan did not manage to eject.
* #001, September 20, 1979 Both engines stopped. Col. Ilie P. Botea ejected safely.
* #113, March 8, 1983 Crashed on landing due to pilot error. Maj. Ion G. Tanase ejected safely.
* #???, August 14, 1986 G.M. Stoica (not confirmed or incomplete info)
* #602, August 25, 1992 Both pilots, Maj. Dan C. Cosaceanu and Cpt. Traian G. Neagoe, ejected safely.
* #200, November 26, 1996 at Recea-Slatina. Crashed during a test flight. Cpt. Cmdr. Matei "Bebe" Constantin ejected safely.
* #210, July 9, 1997 at Craiova Air Base. Exploded on the runway during preparations for Romanian-made [[cluster munitions]] testing. 16 ground personnel died. The pilot, Cmdr. Ion Marculescu, had not yet approached the plane and was unharmed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/orao-weapon-explodes/11998.article|title=Orao weapon explodes|work=Flight Global|accessdate=2023-10-22}}</ref>
* #219, April 9, 1998 at Ghercesti, near Craiova. The forward landing gear could not be deployed after a test flight. Cmdr. Ion Marculescu ejected safely after exhausting the fuel and the airplane crashed a few km further. This was the last flight for the type.
==Retirement==
[[File:DSCF6583 IAR93.JPG|thumb|Dismantled IAR-93 MB #204]]
Following the outbreak of the war in Yugoslavia and the UN embargo, the IAR-93 program ended in Romania in 1992, with several airframes in different stages of construction. Around 75 aircraft were still in service, a few of them being used for testing and research (#200 – first B model with afterburners, #600 (DC) – the only one fitted with canards).{{cn|date=February 2023}}
The last IAR-93s were withdrawn and mothballed from the [[Romanian Air Force]] in 1998. Surviving airframes are stored at [[List of airports in Romania|Deveselu]] (IAR-93A #116), [[List of airports in Romania|Timișoara]] (IAR-93MB #214), and [[List of airports in Romania|Craiova]] (about 60 aircraft), not flight worthy (engines and other equipment removed) and most of them are up for sale. Apparently 20 of them were scrapped until 2006, with the rest awaiting the same fate in 2007.{{cn|date=February 2023}}
The [[J-22 Orao]] are still in service with the air force of [[Serbia]]. The last Yugoslav aircraft was delivered in February 1992, and the plant in [[Mostar]] was destroyed shortly after.{{cn|date=February 2023}}
==Aircraft on display==
[[File:IAR-93 Arsenal Park.jpg|thumb|right|IAR-93 #205 on display in Orăștie (Arsenal Park).]]
* #002 (prototype DC) Aviation Museum, Bucharest (44°28'39.7"N 26°06'41.8"E)
* #109 (A) [[Henri Coandă]] School courtyard, [[Perișor]], [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
* #112 (A) Aviation Museum, Bucharest (44°28'39.8"N 26°06'42.2"E)
* #114 (A) Aviation Museum, Bucharest (44°28'38.9"N 26°06'40.9"E)
* #153 (A) at the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070202040536/http://muzeu.mapn.ro/ National Military Museum], [[Bucharest]] (44°26'25.3"N 26°04'36.4"E)
* #157 (A) donated by the [[Romanian Air Force]] to the [[Museum of Aviation (Košice)|Museum of Aviation]] in [[Košice]], [[Slovakia]] on October 23, 2006
* #159 (A) in Bucharest, at the gate of I.N.C.A.S./Comoti Institut (the birthplace of IAR 93 and IAR 99) (44°26'03.5"N 26°00'21.3"E)
* #182 (A) Aviation Museum, Bucharest (44°28'38.5"N 26°06'39.7"E)
* #201 (MB) in Timișoara, on the road to Resita (45°43'8.27"N 21°11'58.77"E)
* #205 (MB), #207, #208 (August 2022) in [[Orăștie]], at Arsenal Park (45°50'02.7"N 23°09'52.7"E)
* #206 (MB) in Pivka Military History Park, [[Pivka]], [[Slovenia]]
* [[File:IAR 93 on display at Vădeni Airfield.jpg|alt=IAR 93 on display at Vădeni Airfield|thumb|IAR 93 on display at Vădeni Airfield]]#207 (MB) in Timișoara (45°44'4.65"N 21°15'49.65"E)
* #215 (MB) [[Colonești, Olt|Colonești]], [[Olt County|Olt]] (44°38'01.3"N 24°40'41.2"E)
* #216 (MB) [[Bălăbănești, Galați|Bălăbănești]], [[Galați County|Galați]] (46°05'22.1"N 27°43'04.6"E)
* #223 (B) Gagu, Dascălu, (44°36'43.4"N 26°15'36.1"E)
* #229 (B) Vădeni, Brăila (45°21'46.572" N 27°56'22.716" E)
* #232 (B) in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20061121011704/http://www.mta.ro/index_eng.htm Military Technical Academy's] courtyard, [[Bucharest]]
* #600 (DC) in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070203211629/http://www.afahc.ro/afahc_en/index_en.htm Air Force Academy's] courtyard, [[Brașov]]
* #613 (MB) in front of the [[Craiova International Airport]] (44°18'46.2"N 23°53'5.05"E)
* #??? in front of [https://mec.tuiasi.ro/ Facultatea de mecanica "Gheorghe Asachi"], [[Iasi]]
==Specifications (IAR-93B)==
[[File:IAR 93 at Aviation Museum in Bucharest.JPG|thumb|IAR 93 at the Aviation Museum in Bucharest]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''International Air Power Review Vol.3,<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Danut |last=Vlad |editor-first=David |editor-last=Donald |date=2002 |title=IAR-93 and Orao: Balkan Warrior |magazine=International Air Power Review |volume=3 |publisher=Airtime Publishing |ISBN=9781880588376 |page=94-105}}</ref> INCAS - IAR 93 SOKO /VTJ - J - ORAO''<ref name="incas">{{cite web |title=INCAS - IAR 93 SOKO /VTJ - J - ORAO |url=http://www.incas.ro/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135&Itemid=118 |website=www.incas.ro |access-date=7 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323011549/http://www.incas.ro/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135&Itemid=118|archive-date=23 March 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=14.9
|length note=single-seat<br/>
::::{{cvt|15.38|m|0}} two-seats
|span m=9.3
|span note=
|height m=4.52
|height note=
|wing area sqm=26
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=3.33
|airfoil=[[NACA airfoil|NACA 65A-008 mod.]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight kg=5750
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=8400
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=10900
|max takeoff weight note=<br>
*'''Maximum landing weight:''' {{cvt|9360|kg|0}}
|fuel capacity={{cvt|2400|kg|0}}
|more general=
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Turbomecanica/Orao-built [[Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 633-47]]
|eng1 type=[[afterburning turbojet]] engines
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 kn=17.79
|eng1 note=
|eng1 kn-ab=22.24
<!--
Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=1086
|max speed note=at sea level
|max speed mach=0.9
|cruise speed kmh=1087
|cruise speed note= / M0.88 at {{cvt|5000|m}}
|stall speed kmh=274
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range note=
|combat range km=260
|combat range note=lo-lo-lo with four rocket launchers, 5 min over target
::::{{cvt|380|km|mi nmi}} hi-hi-hi patrol with three 500 litre drop tanks, 45 min over target
::::{{cvt|450|km|mi nmi}} lo-lo-hi with two rocket launchers, six 100 kg bombs and one 500 litre drop tank, 10 min over target
::::{{cvt|530|km|mi nmi}} hi-hi-hi with four 250 kg bombs and one 500 litre drop tank, 5 min over target
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=13600
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<big>+</big>8 <big>-</big>4.2
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=65
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=419.2
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|thrust/weight=0.417
|more performance=<br/>
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt|800|m}}
*'''Take-off run to {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt|1150|m}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt|1050|m}}
::::{{cvt|690|m}} with brake parachute
*'''Landing run from {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt|1520|m}}
::::{{cvt|1520|m}} with brake parachute
<!--
Armament
-->
|guns=2 × [[23×115 mm|23 mm]] [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23]]L [[autocannon]]s in lower front fuselage, below engine air intakes, with 200 rounds per gun; [[gun camera]] and [[Marconi Electronic Systems|GEC-Marconi]] D282 [[gyro gunsight]] installed. An additional centerline 23 mm GSh-23L cannon pod could be mounted
|hardpoints= up to 2,500 kg (5,511 lb) on 5 pylons
|rockets=<br>
** LPR 2-122 launcher for PRND-122 rockets
** LPR 57-16 (UB-16)/LPR 57-32 (UB-32) rocket pod for [[S-5 rocket]]s
** [[PRN 80]]
|missiles=<br>
**[[Air-to-air missile]]s:
*** [[K-13 (missile)|K-13]] (license-built in Romania as A-91) – (only on some IAR-93B)
|bombs=<br>
** BE-50 [[general-purpose bomb]]
** BE-100/BEF-100
** BM-250/BEM-250
** BA-500/BE-500/BM-500
|avionics=
*VHF/UHF air-to-air and air-to-ground radio (20W transmission power)
*[[Inertial guidance system|gyro unit]] (Honeywell SGP500 twin-gyro platform in ORAO)
*[[radio altimeter]]
*[[Automatic Direction Finder|ADF]]
*[[radio compass]] and marker receiver
*[[Identification Friend or Foe|IFF]] (IAR-93B only)
*[[Marconi Electronic Systems|GEC-Marconi]] three-axis [[stability augmentation system]], incorporating a basic bank/altitude hold [[autopilot]] and emergency wings-level facility
*[[ IAR 93 Modernization Project ]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://iar93.ro/modernizare-1992/ | title=Modernizare – 1992 - | date=3 November 2024 }}</ref> In 1992, a proposal was made to modernize IAR 93, with plane no. 605.The avionics was produced by the Collins (USA) company and included an inertial navigation system, new modern sighting, two displays.
}}
==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
*[[Soko J-22 Orao]]
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
*[[AMX International AMX|AMX]]
*[[Mikoyan MiG-27]]
*[[Mitsubishi F-1]]
*[[SEPECAT Jaguar]]
*[[Xian JH-7]]
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links ==
{{Commons category|IAR 93}}
*[http://www.incas.ro/ National Institute for Aerospace Research "Elie Carafoli"]
*[http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=IAR%20IAR-93%20Orao&distinct_entry=true Photos of IAR-93] at Airliners.net
*More [https://web.archive.org/web/20060926220545/http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/rom/romaf4.htm photos] at aeroflight.co.uk
*Retired aircraft at [http://www.targeta.co.uk/craiova_2006.htm 322 Aviation Maintenance Centre, Craiova]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHRSoCzAv2w&v3 Movie] at YouTube
*IAR 93 Modernization suggestion Cockpit image [https://iar93.ro/modernizare-1992]
*IAR 93 Fire prevention equipment proof [https://iar93.ro/motorul-viper-descriere-ii/]
{{IAR Aircraft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iar-93}}
[[Category:IAR aircraft|93]]
[[Category:1970s international attack aircraft]]
[[Category:1970s Romanian attack aircraft]]
[[Category:Romania–Serbia relations]]
[[Category:Twinjets]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1974]]
[[Category:Romania–Yugoslavia relations]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]