IAR 99

what is it?

The IAR 99 Șoim (Hawk) is an advanced trainer and light attack aircraft designed and produced by the Romanian aircraft manufacturer Avioane Craiova. It is capable of performing front line roles, including those of close air support and aerial reconnaissance. Development of the IAR 99 begun in 1975, and the prototype conducted its maiden flight on 21 December 1985.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 jet engine · low wing · 9.9 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 865 km/htop speed
• range 1,100 kmwithout refuelling
• size 4,400 kgmax take-off weight
• built 28made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 41 years ago, in 1985.
• 🏎️Top speed is 6.7× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 9.9 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🌍Range of 1,100 km: 6× Amsterdam to Brussels.
• 🏔️Can fly 1.5× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

jet: Gas turbine pushing air out the back (turbofan or turbojet): fast and high-flying.

spec sheet

first flight

1985-12-21

introduced

1988

status

still flying

number built

28

role

advanced trainer and light attack aircraft

origin

🇷🇴 Romania

makers

Industria Aeronautică Română

engines

1× Turbomecanica/Rolls-Royce Viper Mk632-41M

crew

2

length

11 m

wingspan

9.9 m

height

3.9 m

max take-off weight

4,400 kg

top speed

865 km/h

range

1,100 km

ceiling

12,900 m

wings

low wing

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.