| IAR 316 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IAR 316 at Otopeni Air Show 2010 | |
| Role | training helicopter |
| Introduction | 1971 |
| Status | operational for training purposes |
| Primary users | Romanian Air Force Various |
| Produced | 1971-1987 |
| Number built | 250 |
The IAR 316 is a Romanian license-built Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III manufactured by Industria Aeronautică Română, or IAR.
IAR 316 Development and operations[]
IAR 316B exhibited at the 1973 Paris Air Show
IAR began manufacturing the IAR 316 in 1971 at its plant near Braşov, Romania. Production ended in 1987. 250 units were built, 125 of those were built for the Military of Romania, which still uses it to this day in a training capacity. Some IAR 316s were operated in the civilian role in Romania and others were exported to various nations, including Pakistan, Angola, and Guinea. The IAR 316 was modified to carry weapons more common in the Eastern-bloc, such as 57mm rocket pods, 7.62mm machine guns, and anti-tank missiles. An early example was exhibited at the Paris Air Show in June 1973.
IAR 317[]
This was an attempt by IAR to make an attack helicopter out of the IAR 316. Equipped with the same license-produced Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, the IAR 317 featured a stepped two-seat armored cockpit for the pilot and the gunner. The tail boom and rear fuselage was almost identical to the 316. Stub wings mounted on either side of the airframe allowed for the carriage of weapons, including rocket pods, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles. It was named the "Airfox". Only one prototype was built. It participated in the 1985 Paris Air Show.
Operators[]
Angola
Romania
Specifications (IAR 316)[]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 5 passengers
- Length: 12.82 m (42 ft 1 in)
- Height: 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
- Empty weight: 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,200 kg (4,850 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 550 kg (1,210 lb) maximum
- Fuselage width: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, 425 kW (570 hp)
- Main rotor diameter: 3× 11.02 m (36 ft 2 in)
- Main rotor area: 95.4 m2 (1,027 sq ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph; 113 kn)
- Cruising speed: 180 km/h (112 mph; 97 kn)
- Range: 540 km (336 mi; 292 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 3,200 m (10,499 ft)
- Rate of climb: 4.33 m/s (852 ft/min)
Armament
See also[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alouette III. |
- Aérospatiale Alouette II
- Aérospatiale Alouette III
- Aérospatiale Gazelle
- Hughes H-6
- List of helicopters
References[]
- ↑ "World's Air Forces 2000 pg. 47". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000-1%20-%201955.html. Retrieved 28-February-2013.
- ↑ "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal Insight. 2013. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/emptys/101015/world-air-forces-2013.pdf. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ↑ http://www.roaf.ro/en/dotare/iar316_en.php IAR 316 on the official site of the Romanian Air Force
The original article can be found at IAR 316 and the edit history here.