VEF I-16
VEF · Latvia · first flew 1940 · fighter
The VEF I-16 was a prototype Latvian single-engine fighter designed by Kārlis Irbītis and built by VEF in 1939.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-set wing with rounded wingtips
- Inverted V-12 Walter Sagitta engine driving a two-bladed propeller
- Fixed undercarriage with aerodynamic fairings on the prototype
A conventional monoplane fighter with a low wing, a Walter Sagitta V-12 engine and a fixed, faired undercarriage; the prototype was unarmed.
Specifications
- The VEF I-16 has a length of 7.3 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.23 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 483 km/h (300 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development was halted by the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940. Latvian Air Force pilots made the first test flights in the spring of that year.
Variants
Only one prototype was built, in some sources three. Production models were to have had retractable landing gear.
Where you'll see it
The single example was captured by German forces and tested by the Luftwaffe, then used as a training aircraft at an aviation school in Toruń until 1942.
Related aircraft
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