VEF I-14

I-14
General information
Type	trainer
National origin	Latvia
Manufacturer	VEF
Status	Prototype destroyed
Number built	one
History
Introduction date	1937
First flight	19 November 1937

The VEF I-14 was a Latvian Air Force trainer aircraft prototype, built by VEF.

Design and development

Kārlis Irbītis began work on the I-14 in 1936 in response to an order placed by the Latvian Air Force for a new trainer aircraft. Taking inspiration from the British Miles aircraft, the I-14 was a low-wing monoplane with fixed, conventional landing gear. The single pilot sat in an enclosed cockpit. It was powered by a 200 hp Menasco B6S Buccaneer. ^{[1] [2]}

Operational history

The I-14 made its maiden flight on 19 November 1937. On 23 April 1938, the aircraft was destroyed in a crash, its pilot, Bandenieks, was unhurt. ^[1] Development of the I-14 was abandoned in favor of the more advanced VEF I-15. ^[2]

Specifications (I-14)

Data from ^{[1] [2]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
• Height: 2 m (6 ft 7 in)
• Empty weight: 410 kg (904 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 665 kg (1,466 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Menasco B6S Buccaneer air-cooled inline engine, 150 kW (200 hp)

References

1. "VEF Irbitis I-14". latvianaviation.com. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
2. "VEF Irbitis I-14 Учебно-тренировочный истребитель". aviArmor (in Russian). 2 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2020.