ICA IS-28

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IS-28
ICA IS-28B2 (7163606397 - cropped).jpg
IS-28B2
RoleSailplane
National originRomania
Manufacturer ICA
Designer Iosif Șilimon
First flightAugust 1970
Number builtca. 400
Variants IAR-46

The ICA IS-28 is a two-seat sailplane produced in Romania in the 1970s. An all-metal aircraft of conventional design with a T-tail, it was originally produced with 15-metre wings, but in 1973, production shifted to the IS-28B with 17-metre wings and numerous aerodynamic refinements. These included a smaller tail with decreased dihedral, decreased dihedral on the wings, and redesigned fuselage contours. This version first flew on 26 April 1973 and was subsequently produced in versions with flaps (IS-28B2) and without (IS-28B1). Around 100 had been built by the early 1980s, with a substantial number sold for export. On April 7, 1979, Tom Knauff and R. Tawse set a world record with the IS-28 B2 glider, covering a distance of 829 kilometres on a predetermined out-and-return course from the Ridge Soaring Gliderport in Julian, Pennsylvania.

Contents

The IS-28B2 is depicted in the film Escape from New York (1981)

The IS-28 was also produced as a motorglider, initially as just a powered version of the IS-28B2 (designated the IS-28M1) and then as the more radically redesigned IS-28M2. This version had an entirely new forward fuselage offering side-by-side seating for the two occupants, wings relocated to a low-set position on the fuselage, and tailwheel undercarriage with main units that semi-retracted backwards into the wings. The rear fuselage, empennage, and outer wing panels remained identical with the sailplane version.

The IS-29 is a single-seat sailplane that was designed and manufactured to complement training carried out in the IS-28 two-seater.

The IS-30 is a refined IS-28B2, identical in most respects other than having all-metal control surfaces (where the IS-28 has fabric-covered surfaces) and a re-designed horizontal stabiliser.

Variants

IS-28M2 4X-GMX LLMG 08-05-2015b.jpg
IS-28M2

Operators

Flag of Romania.svg  Romania

Specifications (IS-28B2)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89 [2]

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. "Airscene: Romania". Air International . Vol. 25, no. 4. April 1984. p. 161. ISSN   0306-5634.
  2. John W.R. Taylor, ed. (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. London: Jane's Information Group. p. 638. ISBN   0-7106-0867-5.

Further reading