Ikarus 214

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 role.

A conventional, low-wing cantilever monoplane with twin tail it first flew in 1948.

Development
Ikarus 214 was designed by Professor constructor Simo Milutinovic, and was originally designed as a light reconnaissance-bomber. The first prototype flew 7 August 1949. The aircraft was of wooden construction, twin-engine low with a crew of two to four depending on the purpose of the aircraft. The main landing gear wheels retracted into the engine nacelles. The prototype was driven by two Ranger SVG-770C-B1 inline piston motors, serial production aircraft had Pratt & Whitney R-1340AN-1 radials.

The first prototype aircraft had fixed landing gear, although this project was not provided (impatience to begin the examination of the aircraft). On the first test flight one engine was stopped, the pilot (Lieutenant Nikola Simic) tried to turn the aircraft around and land at the airport in Zemun but lost altitude and it fell near the Ikarus factory and he was killed. Analysis concluded that the accident was due to engine could not put in the position of "zero" resistance, high resistance to the landing gear, lack of vertical tail surfaces with asymmetric traction and limited engine power (Ranger SVG-770C-B1), there was loss of height and crash.

The second prototype with the same engines, retractable landing gear and increased vertical tail surfaces flew in 1951. This aircraft was used after tests in the JRV until October 10, 1957. The revised version for photoreconnaissance was designated Ikarus 214F. It flew until 1959 when it was written off after an accident.

Variants

 * Ikarus 214 - prototype with Ranger SVG-770 inline engines,
 * Ikarus 214D - with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 radial engines,
 * Ikarus 214AS - training aircraft,
 * Ikarus 214F - reconnaissance plane for photoreconnaissance,
 * Ikarus 214PP - anti-submarine aircraft,
 * Ikarus 214АМ2 - improved version of the anti-submarine aircraft.

Operational history
A total of 22 aircraft, two prototypes and series production of only 20 meant the Ikarus 214 was not widely used. During testing it was found that the aircraft could not meet basic purpose as a light twin-engine bomber, it has also contributed to the rapid development of unpredictable fighter bomber aircraft which takes on the role medium bomber. Ikarus 214 was mainly used as a training school for training bomber pilots in navigation, and day and night (version Ikarus 214AS).

Transport variant of the aircraft that could carry up to 8 passengers and parachutists. In 1959, some models have been used for naval reconnaissance, and the lack of necessary equipment could have flown reconnaissance missions during the day and only in good weather conditions. In 1961, two aircraft were equipped so that they could carry out reconnaissance and anti-submarine Ikarus 214PP, and improved Ikarus 214AM2. All models were withdrawn from the military use in 1967.

Six aircraft were given Aeronautical Union and Yugoslavia continued to fly in the aero-clubs (Ljubljana, Zagreb, Novi Sad, Vrsac, Skopje and Sarajevo) which were used for transport and parachute jumps. All were withdrawn from service during the 1970s. Although the plane was not fully answered the purpose for which it was designed, and thus did not play a significant role as an Air Force plane was very important from the point of view of the development of the aviation industry, and has remained in good memory and many paratroopers. A copy of this plane are preserves since 2001 at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade Airport.

Operators

 * Yugoslav Air Force
 * 570th Anti-Submarine Aviation Squadron (1961-1964)
 * 571st Anti-Submarine Aviation Squadron (1961-1964)
 * 679th Transport Aviation Squadron (1961-1966)
 * 679th Transport Aviation Squadron (1961-1966)