Iskra

Iskra is a Polish-made jet trainer and light attack aircraft, designed and manufactured by PZL (Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze), with the first prototype flying in 1977, and entering service with the Polish Air Force in 1984, alongside the MiG-15 and MiG-17. The Iskra was also used by the Aerobatic Team Orlik, and was exported to several countries, including India, where it was used by the Indian Air Force, and Egypt, where it was used by the Egyptian Air Force. The Iskra was designed to replace the TS-8 Bies, and was used in conjunction with the TS-11 Iskra, and the PZL-130 Orlik.

Introduction

The Iskra is a single-engine, two-seat jet trainer, with a design similar to the Aero L-29 Delfín, and the Cessna T-37 Tweet, and was designed to provide training for pilots of the Polish Air Force, as well as for export to other countries, such as Czechoslovakia, where it was used by the Czechoslovak Air Force, and East Germany, where it was used by the East German Air Force. The Iskra has a length of 11.66 meters, and a wingspan of 10.06 meters, and is powered by a single Ivchenko AI-25 turbojet engine, which produces 14.7 kN of thrust, similar to the Yak-40, and the Tupolev Tu-134. The Iskra has a maximum speed of 720 km/h, and a range of 1,000 km, making it suitable for training and light attack missions, and was used in conjunction with the MiG-21, and the Su-7.

History

The development of the Iskra began in the early 1970s, with the first prototype flying in 1977, and the first production aircraft being delivered to the Polish Air Force in 1984, alongside the MiG-23, and the Su-20. The Iskra was designed to replace the TS-8 Bies, and was used in conjunction with the PZL-130 Orlik, and the PZL W-3 Sokół. The Iskra was also exported to several countries, including India, where it was used by the Indian Air Force, and Egypt, where it was used by the Egyptian Air Force, and was used in conjunction with the Dassault Mirage III, and the Chengdu J-7. The Iskra was used by the Aerobatic Team Orlik, and was also used for training by the United States Air Force, at the Sheppard Air Force Base, and the Randolph Air Force Base.

Models and Variants

There were several models and variants of the Iskra, including the TS-11 Iskra bis A, which was a two-seat trainer, and the TS-11 Iskra bis B, which was a single-seat attack aircraft, similar to the A-4 Skyhawk, and the F-5 Tiger II. The Iskra was also used as a testbed for the PZL Kania, and the PZL W-3 Sokół, and was used in conjunction with the Mil Mi-2, and the Mil Mi-8. The Iskra was powered by a single Ivchenko AI-25 turbojet engine, which produces 14.7 kN of thrust, similar to the Yak-40, and the Tupolev Tu-134, and was used in conjunction with the An-24, and the An-26.

Operational Use

The Iskra was used by the Polish Air Force for training and light attack missions, and was also used by the Aerobatic Team Orlik, and was used in conjunction with the MiG-29, and the Su-22. The Iskra was also exported to several countries, including India, where it was used by the Indian Air Force, and Egypt, where it was used by the Egyptian Air Force, and was used in conjunction with the Dassault Mirage 2000, and the Chengdu J-10. The Iskra was used for training by the United States Air Force, at the Sheppard Air Force Base, and the Randolph Air Force Base, and was used in conjunction with the Northrop T-38 Talon, and the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II.

Specifications

The Iskra has a length of 11.66 meters, and a wingspan of 10.06 meters, and is powered by a single Ivchenko AI-25 turbojet engine, which produces 14.7 kN of thrust, similar to the Yak-40, and the Tupolev Tu-134. The Iskra has a maximum speed of 720 km/h, and a range of 1,000 km, making it suitable for training and light attack missions, and was used in conjunction with the MiG-21, and the Su-7. The Iskra has a service ceiling of 11,000 meters, and a rate of climb of 21.7 m/s, similar to the Aero L-29 Delfín, and the Cessna T-37 Tweet.

Legacy

The Iskra played an important role in the development of the Polish Air Force, and was used for training and light attack missions, and was also used by the Aerobatic Team Orlik, and was used in conjunction with the MiG-29, and the Su-22. The Iskra was also exported to several countries, including India, where it was used by the Indian Air Force, and Egypt, where it was used by the Egyptian Air Force, and was used in conjunction with the Dassault Mirage 2000, and the Chengdu J-10. The Iskra was used for training by the United States Air Force, at the Sheppard Air Force Base, and the Randolph Air Force Base, and was used in conjunction with the Northrop T-38 Talon, and the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, and is now on display at the Polish Aviation Museum, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Category:Aircraft