Ikarus IK 2

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Ikarus IK 2

Type	fighter
Manufacturer	Ikarus A.D.
Designed by	Kosta Sivcev, Ljubomir Ilic
Maiden flight	1935
Introduced	1935
Retired	1942
Primary users	Royal Yugoslav Air Force NDH
Number built	12

The Ikarus IK-2 was a high-wing, all metal, single seat, monoplane fighter aircraft of indigenous design built for the Yugoslav Air Force. The IK-2 was designed by Kosta Sivčev and Ljubomir Ilić.

The prototype, designated the IK-1, of the design was ordered from Ikarus A.D. in 1934, and was delivered for test in 1935. The aircraft was powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs inline engine. The armament consisted of a 20 mm HS-404 cannon and two 7.92 mm Darne machine guns, both engine-mounted. The design was similar to the Polish PZL P.8, sharing its Pulawski wing (gull-wing) design, giving pilot an excellent view.

Captain Leonid Bajdak, a biplane advocate, tested the IK-1 in flight. During a full range of tests on the third flight the aircraft failed to pull out of a power dive and crashed. Bakdak bailed out and survived but claimed the IK-1 was not suitable as a fighter. Investigation of the wreckage disclosed that the failure was due to negligence in sewing a seam on one of the fabric covered wings, and therefore a decision was made to proceed with the second prototype, designated IK-2. The second prototype had metal skinned wings and was ready for test in June 1936. A new test pilot, Dobnikar, performed the preliminary flight tests, including a mock battle against a Hawker Fury, a biplane, flown by Captain Bajdak. The IK-2 outperformed the biplane in all respects.

Based upon these tests the Yugoslav Air Force ordered twelve IK-2 fighters, which were all delivered in 1937. In April 1941 when German forces invaded Yugoslavia, eight IK-2 fighters served mainly in strafing invading German columns and later the surviving aircraft were included in the Croatian Air Force.

A proposed development of the IK-2 was the IK-4, a two seat reconnaissance monoplane, but it was never ordered.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Specifications (Ikarus IK-2)

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[edit] General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 25 ft 10 in (7.90 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 5 in (11.43 m)
Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.81 m)
Wing area: 194 ft² (18.03 m²)
Empty: 3,175 lb (1443 kg)
Loaded: 4,255 lb (1934 kg)
Maximum takeoff: lb (kg)
Powerplant: 1× Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs twelve cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine, 860 shp (1,153 kW) each