FR001 I.A.R. 39

History:
During the thirties, the IAR society (Industria Aeronautica Romania) built planes under Polish or French licences (PZL P.11, later P.24, Potez 25). In 1936 the IAR-Brasov project team designed a reconnoissance and light bomber plane (IAR 37), improved from the Potez 25. A first batch of 50 planes was built in 1937. Experience of units using the IAR 37 and her variant IAR 38 (built with imported BMW engine) led to slight modifications. The resulting plane was named IAR 39, she was test flown for the first time on the 13 th of March, 1940. The production was then switched to the IAR 39 variant.

At beginning of 1942, the IAR plant in Brasov, heavily engaged in the assembly of urgently needed IAR 80 and Savoias 79, transferred the IAR 39 production to the SET society in Bucharest.  A /S  was added to the serial number of the SET built planes, so that they were easily distinguished from the IAR built ones.

During WWII, the IAR 39s were used by the Rumanian Army against Soviet Union, and, following the August 1944 coup, against the Axis forces.

Specifications (IAR 39): reconnoissance and light bomber biplane, single engined three-seats. Wingspan 13,10m. Lenght 9,60m. Weight: 3085 kg (light bomber), 3007 kg (reconnoissance). Maximum speed 330 km/h. Air cooled radial engine: IAR-14K IIC-32 delivering 870 CV (IAR Brasov), IAR 14K IVC-32 giving 1025 CV (SET Bucharest). Defensive weapons: 4 x Browning-PWU 7,92 mm machine guns (1AR), 3 for SET planes. Bomb load: 24 bombs of 12 kg.

References:

• AirMagazine n°8, dossier: l'IAR 37 et ses variantes pages 16 à 36 
• L'aviation roumaine pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, M. Robanescu, T.L. Morosanu, Editions TMA
• Rumanian Air Force, The Prime Decade, 1938-1947, D. Bernad, Squadron/signal Publications