IPT-16 Surubim
Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas · Brazil · first flew 1959 · light aircraft
The IPT-16 Surubim was a Brazilian experimental aerobatic monoplane designed by Joseph Kovács at the Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, first flown on 17 September 1959. It was constructed entirely from native Brazilian timbers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.95 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- All-wood aerobatic monoplane built from Brazilian Pine and Freijo timbers
- Hirth HM506A piston engine; retractable tailwheel undercarriage
- Single prototype; 340 km/h level, 500 km/h in dive
A short-span, low-wing aerobatic monoplane with retractable tailwheel undercarriage, a Hirth engine behind a tight-fitting cowl, and a very compact fuselage — resembling contemporary European aerobatic designs but identifiable by its all-wood construction.
Specifications
- The IPT-16 Surubim has a length of 6.95 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.7 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 340 km/h (211 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built to demonstrate Brazil's capacity for indigenous aircraft design using local materials, the Surubim was all-wood, using Brazilian Pine and Freijo. It achieved 340 km/h in level flight and 500 km/h in a dive, but the single prototype was not adopted by the Brazilian Air Force.
Variants
Single prototype only.
Where you'll see it
Research and evaluation only; never produced or fielded.
Related aircraft
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