IAR-821

The IAR‑821 is a light‑utility aircraft produced by the Romanian aerospace company Romaero during the early 1990s. Developed as a modern successor to the IAR‑823 trainer, the IAR‑821 was designed to serve both civilian and military customers in roles such as pilot training, liaison, aerial observation and light cargo transport. Its airframe is based on an all‑metal low‑wing configuration with a semi‑monocoque fuselage, offering a spacious cabin that can accommodate up to four occupants plus a pilot. Power is delivered by a 260 hp Lycoming IO‑540 turboprop engine, driving a three‑blade constant‑speed propeller that provides a maximum cruise speed of roughly 300 km/h and a range of 1 200 km. The aircraft incorporates modern avionics, including a glass cockpit with GPS navigation and dual redundant flight‑control systems, which were advanced for Eastern‑European designs of the period. Although only a limited series of twelve airframes were built, the IAR‑821 demonstrated Romaero’s ability to integrate Western technology with indigenous engineering, paving the way for later projects such as the IAR‑99 multi‑role trainer. Its brief service life remains a noteworthy chapter in post‑Cold‑War Romanian aviation, symbolising the country’s transition toward NATO‑compatible standards.

Romaero

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Design & Classification