Ikarus 214

{{Short description|Military aircraft produced in Yugoslavia}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Ikarus 214 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Ikarus 214-P mjrv1.jpg | alt = | caption = Located in the Aviation Museum in Belgrade, this wreckage of a Ikarus 214-PP is the only surviving example of the Ikarus 214 family | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Military trainer | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Yugoslavia | manufacturer = [[Ikarbus|Ikarus]] | design_group = | designer = [[Sima Milutinović]] | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = [[Yugoslav Air Force]] | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 20+ 2 prototypes | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1949-1959 | introduction = 1949 | retired = 1970 | first_flight = 1949 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Ikarus 214''' was a military aircraft produced in Yugoslavia in the early 1950s. Originally intended as a light reconnaissance-bomber, it was produced as a trainer and transport aircraft when the testing of the prototype showed it had insufficient performance for the reconnaissance-bomber role.

[[File:Ranger V-770 Inverted.jpg|thumb|A Ranger V-770 engine, as installed on the Ikarus 214 prototype]] [[File:Pratt and Whitney Wasp.jpg|thumb|A Pratt and Whitney Wasp engine, as installed on production Ikarus 214 aircraft]]

==Development== A conventional, low-wing cantilever monoplane with [[twin tail]], the Ikarus 214 was designed by Professor constructor Simo Milutinovic, and first flew on 7 August 1949. The aircraft was of wooden construction, twin-engined, with a crew of two to four depending on the mission/role of the aircraft. The main [[landing gear]] wheels retracted into the engine nacelles of the two [[Ranger SVG-770C-B1]] inverted V-12 piston engines. Serial production aircraft were powered by 2x [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340AN-1]] radial engines.

Unlike production aircraft, the first prototype had fixed landing gear, due to delays in development of the retractable undercarriage. On the first test flight one engine failed, the pilot, Lieutenant Nikola Simic, attempted to return to the airport at Zemun, but the aircraft lost altitude and crashed near the Ikarus factory, killing the pilot. Analysis concluded that the accident was caused by a combination of failure of the propeller feathering mechanism, high drag to the landing gear, small fin area, asymmetric thrust and limited engine power.

The second prototype with the same engines, retractable landing gear and increased vertical tail surfaces flew in 1951. This aircraft was used, after [[flight test]] was completed, by the JRV until 10 October 1957. The revised version for photo-reconnaissance, designated '''Ikarus 214F''', flew until 1959 when it was written off after an accident.

==Operational history== A total of 22 aircraft, two prototypes and series production of only 20 meant the Ikarus 214 was not widely used, flight testing having revealed that the 214 could not meet the requirements of a light twin-engine bomber.

The Ikarus 214AS trainer was mainly used as a crew trainer for bomber pilots and navigators.

The Ikarus 214D transport variant of the aircraft could carry up to 8 passengers or parachutists.

Naval reconnaissance versions were limited, by a lack of suitable equipment, to mission in daylight and good weather conditions.

Two aircraft were equipped to carry out maritime reconnaissance and [[anti-submarine warfare]] as the '''Ikarus 214PP''', and '''Ikarus 214AM2'''.

All Ikarus 214 aircraft were withdrawn from military service by 1967.

Six aircraft were donated to the [[Aeronautical Union of Yugoslavia]], continuing to fly in aero-clubs at [[Ljubljana]], [[Zagreb]], [[Novi Sad]], [[Vrsac]], [[Skopje]] and [[Sarajevo]], for transport and parachute jumps. All civilian 214s were withdrawn from service during the 1970s.

Although not entirely successful in its intended role the Ikarus 214 gained a good reputation from parachute jumpers at the aero-clubs.

==Variants== ;Ikarus 214:prototype with [[Ranger SVG-770C-B1]] inline engines, ;Ikarus 214D:with [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1]] radial engines, ;Ikarus 214AS:training aircraft, ;Ikarus 214F:reconnaissance aircraft for photo reconnaissance, ;Ikarus 214PP:anti-submarine aircraft, ;Ikarus 214АМ2:improved version of the anti-submarine aircraft.

==Operators== ;{{YUG}} *[[Yugoslav Air Force]] **[[570th Anti-Submarine Aviation Squadron]] (1961-1964) **[[571st Anti-Submarine Aviation Squadron]] (1961-1964) **[[679th Transport Aviation Squadron]] (1961-1966)

==Surviving aircraft== A single Ikarus 214 has been preserved at the [[Museum of Aviation at Belgrade Airport]].

==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs |ref={{citation needed|date=October 2012}} |prime units? = met

|empty weight kg=3,965 |empty weight lb=3,741 |gross weight kg=5,025 |gross weight lb=11,078

|eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1]] |eng1 kw=450 |eng1 hp=600

|max speed kmh=365 |max speed mph=227 |range km=1,080 |range miles=670 |ceiling m=7,000 |ceiling ft=23,000 |guns=3 × MG-15 (second prototype) |bombs=4 × 50 kg |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints= |hardpoint capacity= |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other= |other armament= |avionics= }}

==See also== [[Sima Milutinović]] {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Siebel Si 204]] |lists= }}

==References== # {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=430 }} # [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other/214.html Уголок неба] (Ugolok Neba) {{in lang|ru}} # Бојан Б. Димитријевић "''Југословенско ратно ваздухопловство 1942.-1992.''" {{in lang|sr}} # Жутић. Н. и Бошковић. Л., Икарус - Икарбус: 1923 - 1998,(Монографија 75 година Икаруса), Икарбус, Београд, 1999. {{in lang|sr}} # Златко Рендулић, Авиони домаће конструкције после Другог светског рата, Лола институт, Београд, 1996. год. {{in lang|sr}} #{{cite journal | last = Ђокић | first = Небојша |author2=Предраг Миладиновић | date = June 2004 | script-title=sr:Домаћи авион "214" | journal = Аеромагазин | volume = 59 | publisher = ББ Софт | location = YU-Београд | language = sr | issn = 1450-6068 | pages = 33–36 }}

==External links== {{commons category|Ikarus 214}} * [http://vazduhoplovnetradicijesrbije.rs/index.php/istorija/245-ikarus-214 Ikarus 214] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407062418/http://vazduhoplovnetradicijesrbije.rs/index.php/istorija/245-ikarus-214 |date=2014-04-07 }} * [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other/214.html Photos at Уголок неба] * [http://www.ikarbas.rs www.ikarbas.rs]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://www.mysity-military.com/Avijacija-i-PVO/Licna-karta-Ikarus-214.html www.mysity-military.com/Avijacija-i-PVO/Licna-karta-Ikarus-214.html]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://www.aeroklub-sarajevo.ba/911.htm www.aeroklub-sarajevo.ba/911.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501044535/http://www.aeroklub-sarajevo.ba/911.htm |date=2010-05-01 }} * [http://www.muzejrv.mod.gov.rs/pages_files/expo_files/motori.html www.muzejrv.mod.gov.rs/pages_files/expo_files/motori.html]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/yugo/af2/types/ikarus.htm www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/yugo/af2/types/ikarus.htm]

[[Category:Ikarus aircraft]] [[Category:1940s Yugoslav military trainer aircraft]] [[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1949]]