Ikarus IK 2
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The Ikarus IK-2 was a high-wing, all metal, single seat, monoplane fighter aircraft of indigenous design built for the Yugoslav Air Force. The IK-2 was designed by Kosta Sivčev and Ljubomir Ilić.
The prototype, designated the IK-1, of the design was ordered from Ikarus A.D. in 1934, and was delivered for test in 1935. The aircraft was powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs inline engine. The armament consisted of a 20 mm HS-404 cannon and two 7.92 mm Darne machine guns, both engine-mounted. The design was similar to the Polish PZL P.8, sharing its Pulawski wing (gull-wing) design, giving pilot an excellent view.
Captain Leonid Bajdak, a biplane advocate, tested the IK-1 in flight. During a full range of tests on the third flight the aircraft failed to pull out of a power dive and crashed. Bakdak bailed out and survived but claimed the IK-1 was not suitable as a fighter. Investigation of the wreckage disclosed that the failure was due to negligence in sewing a seam on one of the fabric covered wings, and therefore a decision was made to proceed with the second prototype, designated IK-2. The second prototype had metal skinned wings and was ready for test in June 1936. A new test pilot, Dobnikar, performed the preliminary flight tests, including a mock battle against a Hawker Fury, a biplane, flown by Captain Bajdak. The IK-2 outperformed the biplane in all respects.
Based upon these tests the Yugoslav Air Force ordered twelve IK-2 fighters, which were all delivered in 1937. In April 1941 when German forces invaded Yugoslavia, eight IK-2 fighters served mainly in strafing invading German columns and later the surviving aircraft were included in the Croatian Air Force.
A proposed development of the IK-2 was the IK-4, a two seat reconnaissance monoplane, but it was never ordered.
Specifications (Ikarus IK-2)
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Length: 25 ft 10 in (7.90 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 5 in (11.43 m)
- Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.81 m)
- Wing area: 194 ft² (18.03 m²)
- Empty: 3,175 lb (1443 kg)
- Loaded: 4,255 lb (1934 kg)
- Maximum takeoff: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs twelve cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine, 860 shp (1,153 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 266 mph at 16,400 ft (428 km/h)
- Range: 248 miles (399 km)
- Service ceiling: 34,450 ft (10,503 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min (m/min)
- Wing loading: 22 lb/ft² (107 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.20 hp/lb (0.60 kW/kg)
Armament
- 1× 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 cannon with 60 rounds
- 2× 7.92 mm Darne machine guns
Sources
- William Green (1961). War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters, (Vol 4). London: MacDonald
Related content
Related development: Ikarus IK-4Comparable aircraft: PZL P.8 - PZL P.11 - Hawker Fury - Avia B.534
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