ICAR Comercial
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| ICAR Comercial | |
|---|---|
| Type | Passenger aircraft |
| Manufacturer | ICAR |
| Maiden flight | 1934 |
| Introduced | 1936 |
| Primary user | Romania (LARES Airlines) |
| Number built | 1[1] |
The ICAR Comercial was a Romanian single-engine airliner aircraft for 6 passengers, of the 1930s. It was the first civil transport aircraft built in Romania.
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[edit] Development and usage
The Comercial was designed in 1934 in the German BFW works, according to an agreement with th Romanian factory ICAR (Īntreprinderea de construcţii aeronautice româneşti) in Bucharest, and on its order. The plane was originally designated BFW (or Messerschmitt) M.36, as a high-wing monoplan for six passengers, of metal construction. First it was planned to use IAR-produced 450 hp (336 kW) Gnome & Rhône 7K radial engine, but eventually the plane was fitted with 380 hp (283 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Serval Mk. I radial engine[1].
Only one aircraft, designated the Comercial, was built (registration YR-ACS). Later it was modified, with a cabin rearranged for five passengers and two luggage compartments. Also the engine was replaced with a 300 hp (224 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich Mizar 47. The plane was used on domestic lines of the Romanian state airline LARES (Liniile aeriene române exploatate cu statul), in 1936-1940. A tri-motor development was planned, but not realized.
There is however a possibility, that two different aircraft existed under ICAR Comercial designation. According to some sources, Comercial was a licence-built Messerschmitt M.18b[2]. It would carry markings CV-RAL then, and the aircraft YR-ACS would possibly be the second Comercial, ordered in 1940[1].
[edit] Description
High-wing cantilever monoplane of mixed construction, with closed cab, single engine, and a fixed landing gear. A fuselage of a steel frame, covered with plywood. Straight trapezoid wings, single-spar, plywood covered. Crew of two in a cab before the wing. The cab was equipped with a radio and could be fitted with twin controls. Next and slightly below in a fuselage, under the wing, there was a cabin for 6 passengers, with wide rectangular windows and access doors at the rear. There were also two baggage compartments.
Armstrong Siddeley Serval Mark I 340 hp radial engine in front, under NACA cowling. Three-blade propeller. Conventional fixed landing gear, with a tailwheel. Main gear wheels had teardrop covers and struts joined the main gear with wings.
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 6
- Length: 9.8 m ()
- Wingspan: 15.4 m ()
- Height: 2.8 m ()
- Wing area: m² (ft²)
- Empty weight: 1320 kg ()
- Loaded weight: 2250 kg ()
- Useful load: 930 kg ()
- Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Serval I air-cooled 10-cylinder radial, 340 hp ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: 235 km/h
- Cruise speed: 220 km/h
- Stall speed: <89 km/h ()
- Range: 700 km ()
- Service ceiling 4,500 m ()
[edit] References
- Ion Gudju, Gheorghe Iacobescu, Ovidiu Ionescu: Romanian aeronautical constructions 1905-1974
- Bernád Dénes: Romania's Aircraft Production. The First Twenty-Five Years at Aviatia magazine website
- ^ a b c Aviatia magazine website
- ^ "History of Romanian Aviation", Bucharest, 1984 - via article in Aviatia magazine
[edit] See also
Related development
- Messerschmitt M.18
Comparable aircraft
[edit] External links
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