VEF I-17
VEF · Latvia · first flew 1940 · light aircraft
The VEF I-17 was a Latvian trainer aircraft, intended also as a fighter, designed in 1939 by Kārlis Irbītis. It was produced by the VEF factory in Riga.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing monoplane trainer
- Single Menasco Pirate C4 inline engine
- Latvian trainer intended also as a fighter
It is a single-engined low-wing monoplane with a four-cylinder inline engine. A replica build was reported around 2009.
Specifications
- The VEF I-17 has a length of 8.2 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 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
It was designed to train monoplane pilots after the Hawker Hurricanes ordered by Latvia never arrived. It was test flown in early 1940 and almost immediately accepted by the Latvian Air Force.
Variants
Some aircraft had Soviet M-11 engines installed after the occupation of Latvia.
Where you'll see it
Six were built, and an order for six more was halted after the Soviet occupation in June 1940. The Luftwaffe tested the type, which was used by an aviation school in Toruń.
Related aircraft
- VEF I-16
- VEF I-15
- VEF JDA-10M
- VEF I-14
- Akaflieg München Mü15
- AVIS C.4
- Braunschweig LF-1 Zaunkönig
- CallAir Model A
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