Ikarus Kurir

{{Short description|Yugoslavian military aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use British English|date=September 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Kurir | logo = | logo_size = | image = Cijan (Ikarus) Kurir.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Army liaison, ambulance and parachute aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Republic of Yugoslavia]] | manufacturer = [[Ikarbus]], Belgrade | design_group = | designer = Boris Cijan and Dagoslav Petrovic | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = [[Yugoslav Air Force]] | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = c.145 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1958-61 | introduction = 1955 | retired = 1972 (from Yugoslav Air Force service) | first_flight = 1955 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Ikarus Kurir''' ({{langx|en|Courier}}) is a single-engined high-wing [[monoplane]] designed in [[Yugoslavia]] for army liaison and [[air ambulance]] work from small airfields.<ref name="JAWA56"/> Built in large numbers, it served with the [[SFR Yugoslav Air Force|Yugoslav Air Force (JRV)]] until 1972, when it entered civilian use.

==Design and development==

The Kurir was built in a new factory at the old Ikarus site in [[Belgrade|Zemun, Belgrade]], though like all Yugoslav aircraft of the period it was a product of the centralised national design centre.<ref name="JAWA56"/> It is sometimes referred to as the '''Cijan Kurir''' after one of its designers.

The Kurir has the high wing and tall undercarriage typical of single-engined [[STOL]] aircraft and is similar in appearance to the [[Fieseler Storch]]. Unlike the Storch, the Kurir has an all-metal, cantilever wing. There are short ailerons outboard, with the rest of the trailing edge filled with electrically operated [[Fowler flaps]]. [[Leading edge slot]]s are fitted ahead of the ailerons. The combination of flaps and slots enables the Kurir to reach 15 m (50 ft) altitude in a distance of 220 m (720 ft) and to land from the same height in 100 m (330 ft).<ref name="JAWA56"/>

The [[fuselage]] is also all-metal and rectangular in cross section. The tail unit has a metal frame but is [[Aircraft fabric covering|fabric covered]]. The tall fin carries an inset, tabbed, rudder and is braced to the horizontal tail, which is set on top of the fuselage. The glazed cabin, placed under the wing, normally seats two, but a third seat can be added or both rear seats removed to make room for two stretchers. The Kurir was originally powered by a 155 hp (116 kW) DM-6R six-cylinder inverted air-cooled engine. Geared, this drives a two-bladed constant-speed propeller.<ref name="JAWA56"/> The DM-6R, otherwise known as the Walter/DMB DM-6R was a Yugolav-modified [[Walter Minor 6-III]]. It proved to have vibration problems so later Kurirs were fitted with a [[Lycoming O-435|Lycoming O-435-1]] engine<ref name="Belgrade Mus"/> and are usually known as '''Kurir L'''.

The Kurir has a fixed, tailwheel undercarriage. The two tall, long-stroke, shock-absorbing main legs mounted on the upper fuselage sides just forward of the cabin have supplementary bracing; each carries a wheel fitted with brakes. Alternatively, skis can be fitted.<ref name="JAWA56"/> At least one was configured as a floatplane.

==Operational history== About 145 Kurirs were built, serving with the Yugoslav Air Force until 1972.<ref name="JRV"/> Many were then released for civilian use, mostly appearing on the Yugoslav register and serving in flying clubs. As of July 2010 one Kurir L was registered in the US, one in Slovenia and one in Croatia.

==Variants== * '''Kurir DM-6R''': standard production model with DM-6R engine for Yugoslav Air Force. * '''Kurir H''': floatplane version. * '''Kurir L''': second series with Lycoming O-435-1.

==Operators== ;{{YUG}} *[[Yugoslav Air Force]]<ref name="JRV"/> *[[Letalski center Maribor]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

==Aircraft on display== Two Kurirs, one a Kurir L, are on display in the [[Museum of Aviation (Belgrade)]], [[Serbia]].<ref name="JRV Mus"/> Another is in the [[Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum]], [[Sinsheim]], Germany, painted as a Storch.<ref name="ATM"/>

==Specifications (DM-6R) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=<ref name="JAWA56"/> |prime units?=met  |genhide= |crew=2/3 |capacity= |length m=9.68 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=14.9 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |upper span m= |upper span ft= |upper span in= |upper span note= |mid span m= |mid span ft= |mid span in= |mid span note= |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |swept m= |swept ft= |swept in= |swept note= |dia m= |dia ft= |dia in= |dia note= |width m= |width ft= |width in= |width note= |height m=2.5 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |swept area sqm= |swept area sqft= |swept area note= |volume m3= |volume ft3= |volume note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=1400 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note=two-seat configuration |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |lift kg= |lift lb= |lift note= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=DM-6R |eng1 type=air-cooled 6-cylinder inverted inline, geared |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=155 |eng1 kn= |eng1 lbf= |eng1 note= |power original= |thrust original= |eng1 kn-ab= |eng1 lbf-ab= |eng2 number= |eng2 name= |eng2 type= |eng2 kw= |eng2 hp= |eng2 kn= |eng2 lbf= |eng2 note= |eng2 kn-ab= |eng2 lbf-ab= |eng3 number= |eng3 name= |eng3 type= |eng3 kw= |eng3 hp= |eng3 kn= |eng3 lbf= |eng3 note= |eng3 kn-ab= |eng3 lbf-ab= |more power= |prop blade number=2 |prop name=, constant speed |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= |rot number= |rot dia m= |rot dia ft= |rot dia in= |rot area sqm= |rot area sqft= |rot area note=  |perfhide= |max speed kmh=189 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh=160 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=760 |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=3300 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance=  |armament= |guns= |bombs= |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints= |hardpoint capacity= |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other= |other armament= |avionics= }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==Notable appearances in media== {{main|Aircraft in fiction#Ikarus Kurir}}

==References==

{{commons category|Ikarus Kurir}} <references>

<ref name="JAWA56">{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57|last= Bridgman |first= Leonard |year=1956|publisher= Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd|location= London|page=349 }}</ref>

<ref name="Belgrade Mus">{{cite web |url=http://www.muzejvazduhoplovstva.org.rs/izlozeni_motori.php?jez=eng&id=81 |title=Walter/DMB DM-6R |access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="JRV Mus">{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/Serbia/Belgrade/Muzej_Ratnog_Vazduhoplovstva.htm |title=Yugoslav Air Force Museum |access-date=2010-07-16}}</ref>

<ref name="ATM">{{cite web |url=http://rodb.gofreeserve.com/Av13/Sinsheim/Index.html |title=Auto & Technik Museum, Sinsheim|access-date=2010-07-16 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120305180956/http://rodb.gofreeserve.com/Av13/Sinsheim/Index.html |archive-date = 5 March 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="JRV">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldairforces.com/Countries/yugoslavia/yug.html |title=Yugoslav Air Force Aircraft |access-date=2010-07-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130704195157/http://www.worldairforces.com/Countries/yugoslavia/yug.html |archive-date = 4 July 2013}}</ref>

</references>

[[Category:1950s Yugoslav military aircraft]] [[Category:Ikarus aircraft|Kurir]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:STOL aircraft]] [[Category:Glider tugs]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1955]]