VEF
VEF I-12
The VEF I‑12 was a Latvian‑produced light aircraft built by the state‑run factory VEF (Valsts Elektrotehniskā Fabrika) during the late 1930s. Designed by chief engineer Kārlis Irbītis, the I‑12 made its first flight in 1937 as a two‑seat, low‑wing monoplane intended for sport flying, training and touring. Its structure combined a wooden wing with a plywood‑covered fuselage, while the undercarriage was fixed with a split‑axle design. Powered by a 90‑horsepower Walter Minor engine, the aircraft could reach a top speed of about 190 km/h, climb to 1 000 m in six minutes, and offered a range of roughly 600 km, making it competitive with contemporary European trainers such as the German Bücker Jungmann.
Only a handful of I‑12s were completed before the Soviet occupation of Latvia halted production in 1940. Nevertheless, the type demonstrated VEF’s capability to produce modern aeronautical designs and helped train a generation of Latvian pilots. Its sleek lines and reliable handling earned it a reputation for safety, and the I‑12 remains a symbol of pre‑war Latvian aviation achievement, celebrated by historians and vintage aircraft enthusiasts. Today, a restored example is displayed at the Latvian Aviation Museum in Riga, illustrating the craftsmanship of the era.
Only a handful of I‑12s were completed before the Soviet occupation of Latvia halted production in 1940. Nevertheless, the type demonstrated VEF’s capability to produce modern aeronautical designs and helped train a generation of Latvian pilots. Its sleek lines and reliable handling earned it a reputation for safety, and the I‑12 remains a symbol of pre‑war Latvian aviation achievement, celebrated by historians and vintage aircraft enthusiasts. Today, a restored example is displayed at the Latvian Aviation Museum in Riga, illustrating the craftsmanship of the era.
