Ikarus Kurir

The Ikarus Kurir is a single-engined high-wing monoplane designed in Yugoslavia for army liaison and air ambulance work from small airfields. Built in large numbers, it served with the 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 Zemun, Belgrade, though like all Yugoslav aircraft of the period it was a product of the centralised national design centre. 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 slots 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).

The fuselage is also all-metal and rectangular in cross section. The tail unit has a metal frame but is 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 155 hp (116 kW) DM-6R six cylinder inverted air cooled engine. Geared, this drives a two bladed constant speed propeller. Some aircraft were later fitted with a Lycoming O-435-1 engine and are usually known as Kurir L. Others have Walter Minor motors.

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. At least one was configured as a floatplane.

Operational history
About 145 Kurirs were built, serving with the Yugoslav Air Force until 1972. 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 USA.

Variants

 * Kurir DM-6R: standard production model with DM-6R engine for Yugoslav Air Force.
 * Kurir H: floatplane version.
 * Kurir L: re-engined with a Lycoming O-435-1.

Operators

 * Yugoslav Air Force
 * 891st Liaison Aviation Squadron (former Liaison Squadron of 3rd Military district/Air Command) (1955-1965)
 * 892nd Liaison Aviation Squadron (former Liaison Squadron of 7th Military district/Air Command) (1955-1965)
 * 893rd Liaison Aviation Squadron (former Liaison Squadron of 9th Air Command) (1959-1965)
 * 894th Liaison Aviation Squadron (former Liaison Squadron of 5th Military districtAir Command) (1955-1965)
 * 890th Liaison Aviation Squadron (1961-1968)
 * 525th Training Aviation Squadron (1967)
 * 525th Training Aviation Squadron (1967)

Aircraft on display
Two Kurirs, one a Kurir L, are on display in the Museum of Aviation (Belgrade), Serbia. Another is in the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany, painted as a Storch.