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| | | L.O.O.T.M.(Lust Object of the Month)The LOOTM (pronounced LOOT-em or LOOT-um) is the Lust Object Of The Month. It is simply our current aircraft infatuation. Since it's an "Object," it has to be inanimate (though one could argue that aircraft come alive for us), and has to be special in some way. It is only our opinion, and is completely subjective, so any argument, while perhaps amusing, will not really sway the decision. Thanks, and enjoy.
 | The "front office," in very nice shape, with everything you need readily at hand. | 
| |  | I've always been partial to tigers, and to aircraft painted in Tiger schemes. These aircraft are the Sasol Tigers team. |  | A pair of Delfins showing two different placements of the tanks. The R model, the upper aircraft, could also carry underwing tanks (although this one doesn't). |
| Jets are fine, but usually not on my personal Radar. However, I recently came to appreciate this compact jet trainer first built by the Czechoslovakians in 1960. Simple, rugged and possessing good all-around performance, the "Delfin" ("Dolphin", of course), was widely utilized to prepare pilots transitioning into MiGs. The Delfin is a nice flying aircraft with basic systems (for a jet), but is relatively easy to maintain, operate and purchase. But the hourly operating costs (especially with high fuel prices) can be a bit daunting. But if you're looking for a jet that requires very little attention and is simple and satisfying to fly--and aerobatic, to boot--the L-29 is a good choice. The LOOTM for July is the Aero Vodochody L-29 "Delfin." Enjoy!
- N O T E - Additional information on the June LOOTM - IAR Fighters from a Romanian reader. NOTE: Please see the interesting facts we received from George Bunea about our June LOOTM. George is 53 years old, and lives in Bucharest, Romania. Thank you George for your excellent input to our website!
During WWII, there were MANY American bombing raids over Romanian oil fields of Ploiesti and even over Bucharest. And there were A LOT OF Liberators shot down by A LOT OF Romanian IAR 81 fighter planes and by the Romanian army AA gunners. In fact, many American pilots were frightened by IAR 81 due to the simple fact that they always believed that it was Focke Wulf 190 and not just a Romanian fighter plane. And if you will refer to some American war archives, you will find out that IAR 81 fighter planes were only outnumbered by the American fighter planes, but not defeated! At one point, they (Romanian pilots and planes) were just a few, against too many! What I have to say is that, unfortunately, I do not know why that picture does not have the real colors, that is, when you go to that museum (as I did myself) you realize that the colors in the picture are not the ones you see by you own eyes. Another information is that this plane was built in the same place where IAR 81 were built during WWII. They used the original drawings that were found in an archive, after so many years. (short after finishing the plane construction, the originals just vanished and no one knows where they are now). They also used all the information they could gather from the Romanian pilots that were still alive at that time. When the Russians came here at the end of the war, they have taken every plane, every piece of bolt and nut, all the machinery, drawings , specialists and transported everything to Russia by train. Then they ordered that all remaining IAR 81 be scrapped. Afterwards, Romania wasn't allowed for decades to built another planes. That was the time when a joke was created by the Romanians - a joke for which many of them were put in jail for decades: QUESTION: "Do you know the principle of Mendeleev?” ANSWER: “Nothing is lost, everything is transported!" I would like to search in my collection of magazines and send you some more information about this fighter plane and it's history. But please let me know if you agree to receive such information. If your answer will be positive, I will also send you some scanned images with its drawings, components, etc. Thank you again for your attention and please let me know if you wish to know more about IAR 81. By the way, I forgot to mention that am Romanian, I am 53 years old and I live in Bucharest, Romania. Regards, George Bunea
WWII Romanian Fighter IAR 81 Deliberately ignored by aviation historians Always considered by the American airmen as being the FW190 It’s initial camouflage scheme strictly followed the British camouflage scheme of Hawker Hurricane.
Among many other plane makes, The Royal Romanian Air Force also had six Hawker Hurricanes and one Lancaster bomber plane; Curiosity: As far as I was told, at the time when war was declared between the England and Germany, two crews - one German and the other English - were each trying to assemble their planes - Messerschmidts and Hurricanes - in two nearby hangars located in Bucharest Baneasa Airport, Romania. But nothing happened between the two crews of people. Luftwaffe pilots test report: My note: the propeller pitch regulator was added by the factory due to this test report. Useful Romanian site: www.modelism.ro click the English flag and search the IAR model kit ad books and CDs in English language Characteristics: Empty weight: 4850 lbs Max. loaded weight:6570 lbs Max. speed at 22,965 ft:342 mph Climb time to 16,405 ft:6,20 min Range: 453 miles Wingspan: 32 ft 1 in Length: 32 ft Height: 11 ft 10 in Engine: IAR 14K -1100 HP 14 cylinder air cooled, double row, radial Armament: 2 x 20 mm Mauser or Ikaria guns 4 x 7,92 mm Browning FN machine guns
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