IAR-822
Encyclopedia
The IAR-822 was an agricultural aircraft
Agricultural aircraft
An agricultural aircraft is an aircraft that has been built or converted for agricultural use - usually aerial application of pesticides or fertilizer ; in these roles they are referred to as "crop dusters" or "top dressers"...
built in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in the 1960s. Based on the IAR-821
IAR-821
The IAR-821 was an agricultural aircraft built in Romania in 1968s. It was a conventional low-wing monoplane with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.-Development:...
, it was a conventional low-wing monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage and differed from its predecessor mainly in the choice of a horizontally-opposed engine in place of a radial
Radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...
.
Development
The IAR-822 is an agricultural crop sprayer and duster. It is the direct descendant of the IAR-821IAR-821
The IAR-821 was an agricultural aircraft built in Romania in 1968s. It was a conventional low-wing monoplane with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.-Development:...
, from which it retains the fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
. The design was completed under the leadership of Radu Manicatide in 1970, at IMFCA Bucharest (Institutul de Mecanica Fluidelor si Cercetari Aerospatiale - Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Aerospace Research).
A low-wing monoplane, it featured mixed wood-metal structure, with the fuselage and wing roots constructed from welded chrome-molybdenum tubing, with the outer wings and tail unit made from wood. The front fuselage had aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
skin, while the rest of the surface was plywood covered with fabric
Aircraft fabric covering
Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures, the de Havilland Mosquito being an example of this technique....
.
The need for a trainer was addressed with the creation of the IAR-822B, which first flew on 12 November 1973 at Bucharest with Constantin Manolache at the controls. The chemical tank was replaced by the student pilot's seat, the instructor being in the rear (original) cockpit. The fuselage was entirely covered in aluminium and the controls and trimmer were electrically actuated. It served as a civilian trainer for the IAR 822 A and IAR 826
IAR 826
-External links:*...
but also as a military trainer, being operated by the Air Force school at Boboc.
Operational history
The prototype (registered YR-MCA) first flew on 20 March 1970, piloted by Constantin "Titi" Manolache, a renowned Romanian aerobatics and civilian test pilot. It was built at IRMA (Intreprinderea de Reparatii Material Aeronautic - Enterprise for Aeronautical Material Repairement), in Bucharest. The spraying/dusting equipment was certified during a flight on 10 August 1970. The first serial plane, YR-MCB, first flew on 14 June 1971.The fourth built plane, was displayed at the General Aviation Salon at Cannes, France 24-25 May 1972, together with the Romanian made IS-28 glider and IS-24 light plane. It was also presented at the General Aviation Show at Hannover, the same year. However, no exports orders were received and the aircraft enjoyed little success even at home, mainly due to being underpowered.
IAR 822A was in use until the early 1980s, with an average of 400 flight hours/year/airframe. They were predominantly employed in the agricultural role, but were sometimes used for aerial surveillance of pipe lines and power lines.
At least five IAR-822 Bs were used by the Romanian Air Force
Romanian Air Force
The Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade...
for a brief period in 1974-75, probably to complement the tired IAR-813 in the primary training role until the IAR-823 entered service in sufficient numbers. The sole survivor is serial number 05, which can be seen (without tail unit and outer wings) at the Muzeul Aviatiei, Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
.
Twenty examples of the IAR-822A were produced by IRMA Bucharest in 1970-71. There were ten IAR-822Bs built by IRMA Bucharest in 1973-74.
Variants
IAR-822A- Basic version agricultural crop sprayer and duster
IAR-822B
- Tandem two-seat trainer, 10 examples built by IRMA Bucharest in 1973-74.
Operators
- Romanian Utilitary Aviation - the only operator of the IAR-822A
- Romanian Air ForceRomanian Air ForceThe Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade...
- used at least 5 IAR-822B for a brief period