Baltic aircraft

[Romantic Technofreak]

As I already did with the GOT topic about the ANBO-VIII, I would like to direct your attention once more on the Baltic countries. I hope you know in which part of the world these remote countries are located (once, the president of a very big country confused Bolivia with Brasil, while visiting the latter...)

Of course, these aircraft weren´t a technical revelation, but this is also not to be expected. For me, it is important enough to show that they existed at all. It also can´t be hidden that in WWII these countries, especially Latvia, got deeply entangled into the contemporary events.

Let´s start with Lithuania. The ANBO-VIII comes from there. It´s the only catholic Baltic country and thus hase close relations with Poland. In this link, you can read about other ANBO aircraft:

http://www.lam.lt/istorija/karo_aviacija/gustaicio/anbo/nfraen.htm

Let´s continue with Latvian aircraft. This one is the VEF Irbitis I-12:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/13ecfc6c.jpg

and this one the VEF Irbitis I-16:

http://latvianaviation.com/AV%20Images/AV%20013.jpg

The constructor, Karlis Irbitis, worked for Germany (Messerschmitt) in WWII. After the war, he went to Canada and joined into Canadair construction work:

http://latvianaviation.com/BC_Irbitis.html


This is the Cukurs C-6bis, intended as dive-bomber trainer:

http://airwar.ru/image/i/other2/c6bis-i.jpg

The constructor, Herberts Cukurs, made himself a name as long-range record pilot before the war, and as war and genocidal criminal (responsible for the death of around 30.000 jews). After the war, he went to Brasil, where he flew a Republic Seabee:

http://www.seabee.info/rc3_brazil.htm

In 1965, Cukurs was assinated by Israeli agents. The post-Soviet Latvia sees a rebirth of Nazi ideas.

Estonia´s contribution was the Aviotehase PN-3, an especially beautiful fighter-trainer:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/Coridano/eefb0a4b.jpg

Technical data on request, RT (<- not true!![:I], edited, RT)

[Mark J]

Just had a quick look at the VEF I-16 and was amazed at how close it is to the US Bell XP-77. In size, powerplant, gereral configiration and layout. The only real difference is the Bell had a different canopy.
Perhaps someone at Bell had been to Latvia :)

cheers

[alyster]

You said that thecnical data is on request. Could you post the data about Aviotehas PN-3?

Also would u hapen to know if there is any of that aircraft still remaining somewhere? Laidoner's museum perhaps?

[Romantic Technofreak]

Sorry, Alyster, I opened my mouth too wide![:I]

Only thing I could find out that it was driven by a Rolls-Royce Kestrel of 570 hp. I don´t know anything about the fate of the prototype, it surely was soon scrapped after the Soviets took control over your country. If it would remain anywhere, than in the main aviation museum of your country would be the appropriate place, and you would know that.

Regards, RT

[GregP]

Hi RT!

Please post the technical data on the Aviotehase PN-3! A great find! I never knew it existed and now must investigate it!

[Romantic Technofreak]

Greg, just above I posted with a [:I] that I don´t have them! [B)][B)][B)][:0]:([xx(]!!!

The site I have the aircraft from doesn´t contain them. I make a request on airwarfareforum.com, hopefully somebody else has them.

Sorry, RT

[alyster]

I later looked into it more. Here's what I found from Laidoner's museum's year book 2002.

Max speed: 395km/h (at 4000m)
Climb rate: 5000m in 12min
and by the plans it should of had a 1000hp engine, but true they went for the Hawker Hart 500hp engine :(