Ikarus IK-2

Ikarus IK-2

History

The IK-02 can most charitably be described as obsolescent at the time of its first flight, but trials against a Hawker Fury biplane revealed that the IK-2 was superior on all counts and the Royal Yugoslav Air Force accordingly ordered 12 examples of the IK-2 production version that differed from the second prototype only in minor details.

IK-2 in action

Twelve aircraft made by Ikarus AD were taken over by RYAF between October 1938 and April 1939, and saw limited service up to time of Yugoslavia's defeat by Germany in April 1941. In the beginning IK-2 served with 6th Fighter Regiment in Zemun and from October 1939 with the 34th Fighter Group, 107 Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Regiment in Zagreb. At the start of April war in 1941, eight of the fighters were still in service. First baptism of fire IK-2 received on April 9th when German Messerschmitt Bf109 attacked Rovine Air Base near Bosanski Aleksandrovac. During the combat one IK-2 and two Hawker Hurricane I where lost in exchange for two Messerschmitt. Aircraft were operated mainly in the ground-attack role. Some serviceable IK-2 where burned by there crews at end of the war, the three (four?) surviving IK-2 were then pressed into service with NDH Air Force.

Technical details

Manufacturer Ikarus AD

Class fighter

Armament 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 fixed forward-firing cannon with 60 rounds in a moteur-cannon installation, two 7.9 mm (0.312 in) Darne fixed forward-firing machine guns in the upper sides of the forward fuselage with synchronization equipment to fire through the propeller disc

Crew Pilot in an enclosed cockpit

Engine One Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs Vee piston engine rated at 860hp (641 kW) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft)

Speed Maximum: 435 km/h (279 mph; 234 kt) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft)
360 km/h (224 mph; 194.5 kt) at sea level
Cursing: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kt) at optimum altitude

Range 700 km (435 miles; 378 nm); endurance 3 hours 15 minutes

Ceiling 10500 meters (34,450 ft)

Climb 5000 meters (16,405 ft) in 5 minutes 24 seconds

Length 7.88 meters (25 ft 10.25 in)

Height 3.84 meters (12 ft 7.125 in)

Wing Span: 11.40 meters (37 ft 0.875 in)
aspect ratio 7.22
area 18.00 m2 (193.76 sq ft)

Weight empty: 1502 kg (3,311 lb)
normal take-off: 1857 kg (4,094 lb)
maximum take-off: 1930 kg (4,255 lb)

Manufacturer	Ikarus AD
Class	fighter
Armament	20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 fixed forward-firing cannon with 60 rounds in a moteur-cannon installation, two 7.9 mm (0.312 in) Darne fixed forward-firing machine guns in the upper sides of the forward fuselage with synchronization equipment to fire through the propeller disc
Crew	Pilot in an enclosed cockpit
Engine	One Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs Vee piston engine rated at 860hp (641 kW) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft)
Speed	Maximum: 435 km/h (279 mph; 234 kt) at 4000 meters (13,125 ft) 360 km/h (224 mph; 194.5 kt) at sea level Cursing: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kt) at optimum altitude
Range	700 km (435 miles; 378 nm); endurance 3 hours 15 minutes
Ceiling	10500 meters (34,450 ft)
Climb	5000 meters (16,405 ft) in 5 minutes 24 seconds
Length	7.88 meters (25 ft 10.25 in)
Height	3.84 meters (12 ft 7.125 in)
Wing	Span: 11.40 meters (37 ft 0.875 in) aspect ratio 7.22 area 18.00 m2 (193.76 sq ft)
Weight	empty: 1502 kg (3,311 lb) normal take-off: 1857 kg (4,094 lb) maximum take-off: 1930 kg (4,255 lb)