VEF I-12
VEF (Valsts Elektrotehniskā Fabrika) · Latvia · first flew 1937 · fighter
The VEF I-12 was a Latvian single-seat fighter monoplane designed and built by VEF (the state electrotechnical factory) in the late 1930s. It was one of a small number of indigenous military aircraft produced by the independent Latvian state.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Latvian single-seat fighter monoplane of the late 1930s
- Built by the state electrical and manufacturing company VEF
- Fixed undercarriage with streamlined fairings
A small, tidy low-wing monoplane fighter with fixed undercarriage and wheel spats, reflecting the constrained resources available to Latvian aviation.
Specifications
- The VEF I-12 has a length of 7.1 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.3 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Latvia's VEF company diversified into aircraft construction in the 1930s as the country sought to maintain a modern air arm. The I-12 was a compact low-wing monoplane fighter that showed promise but was produced in very small numbers. Latvia's occupation by the Soviet Union in 1940 ended further development.
Variants
No production variants are documented; only a handful of examples were completed.
Where you'll see it
Served briefly with the Latvian Air Force before the Soviet occupation of Latvia in June 1940.
Related aircraft
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