IAR CV 11

The IAR CV 11 was a single‑seat, low‑wing monoplane fighter developed in Romania during the late 1930s by Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR). Designed by engineer Vladimir Câmpeanu and named after the initials of the chief designer (Câmpineanu‑Vasile), the aircraft first flew on 5 May 1939 at the Brașov factory. It incorporated an all‑metal, semi‑monocoque fuselage, a retractable undercarriage and a 860 hp IAR K14 radial engine that drove a two‑blade wooden propeller. The armament comprised two 7.92 mm machine guns mounted in the engine cowling, and later prototypes were fitted with a 20 mm cannon. Only three prototypes were completed before the outbreak of World War II halted further production; the rapid advance of German and Soviet forces caused IAR to shift resources to licensed production of the Messerschmitt Bf 109G. Despite its short life, the CV 11 demonstrated Romania’s capacity to design modern combat aircraft and provided valuable experience in metal construction and aerodynamic testing that influenced later IAR models such as the IAR 80. Its legacy endures as a symbol of pre‑war Romanian aeronautical ambition. Today, a replica of the CV 11 is displayed at the Romanian National Military Museum, reminding visitors of a pioneering chapter in the nation’s aerospace history.

Industria Aeronautică Română

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