IAR 79


The IAR 79 was a twin-engine bomber and military reconnaissance aircraft with a wood and metal structure that saw service in World War II built under licence in Brașov, Romania, by Industria Aeronautică Română

Development

In May 1937, Romania ordered 24 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79B bombers from the Savoia-Marchetti company powered by two Romanian-built IAR K14 engines. This variant was designated SM-79B and equipped the 1st Bomber Group of the 1st Bomber Flotilla.
The second batch of aircraft were upgraded by replacing the IAR K14 engines with 1200 hp water cooled Junkers Jumo 211Da engines increasing the maximum speed from 350 km/h to 405 km/h. Eight of these new airplanes were ordered from Italy in 1939. They were designated JIS-79B. But they didn't arrive until August 1941. Between 1941 and 1942, an additional 48 aircraft were license-built by the IAR factory in Brașov under designation IAR JRS-79B.
In the autumn of 1942, another order of 36 bombers was issued to the IAR factory. They were upgraded by replacing the Junkers Jumo 211Da engine with new Junkers Jumo 211F, a 1400 hp engine.

Design

The IAR.79 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane bimotor, with a retractable taildragger undercarriage. The fuselage of the IAR.79 was made of a welded tubular steel frame and covered with duralumin in the forward section, duralumin and plywood on the upper fuselage surface, and fabric on all other surfaces The wings were of all-wood construction, with the trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats to offset its relatively small size. The internal structure was made of three spars, linked with cantilevers and a skin of plywood. The wing had a dihedral of 2° 15'. Ailerons were capable of rotating through +13/-26°, and were used together with the flaps in low-speed flight and in takeoff. Its capabilities were significantly greater than its predecessor, the SM.79, with over available and a high wing loading that gave it characteristics not dissimilar to a large fighter.
The engines fitted to the main bomber version were two IAR K14 radials, equipped with variable-pitch, all-metal three-bladed propellers. Speeds attained were around at, with a relatively low practical ceiling of. Cruise speed was at, but the best cruise speed was . The landing was characterized by a final approach with the slats extended, slowing to with extension of flaps, and finally the run over the field with only needed to land. With full power available and flaps set for takeoff, the SM.79 could be airborne within.

Operational service

Initial in 1938 S-79Bs equipped the 1st Bomber Group. In July 1941, one of the 2nd Bomber Group's squadrons, the 75th Bomber Squadron, was re-equipped with new JRS-79B. These units went on to fight in the Siege of Odessa as part of the Air Combat Group. In 1942 newer JIS-79Bs were assigned to the 71st Squadron. The 72nd Squadron was re-equipped with JRS-79B. The remaining older S-79Bs were transferred to flying schools. In 1944 the 2nd Bomber Group was re-equipped with IAR JRS-79B1. In October 1944 the 1st Bomber Group was reorganized and sent to the front. This unit fought on until the end of the war in May 1945.

Variants

;S-79B
;JIS-79B
;IAR JRS-79B
;IAR JRS-79B1

Operators