Ikarus Orkan
Ikarus · Yugoslavia · first flew 1940 · fighter
The Ikarus Orkan was a Yugoslav single-seat fighter monoplane developed in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia just before World War II. It represented the peak of Yugoslav indigenous fighter design before the German invasion of April 1941.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Yugoslav WWII single-engine monoplane fighter
- Low-wing cantilever design
- Produced just before Yugoslav capitulation
A conventional low-wing monoplane fighter with a large radial engine and retractable undercarriage, visually similar to other European fighters of the 1939–1940 period.
Specifications
- The Ikarus Orkan has a length of 10 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.25 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 545 km/h (339 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1940, the Orkan was designed to provide the Royal Yugoslav Air Force with a modern fighter comparable to contemporaries in Western Europe. Development was cut short by the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, which overran the country before the Orkan could enter service in meaningful numbers. Only a handful of examples were completed.
Variants
No production variants were completed; the type existed only as prototypes and early production airframes.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service with the Royal Yugoslav Air Force due to the German invasion; all examples were either captured or destroyed in April 1941.
Related aircraft
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