DINFIA IA 38

IA 38
Role	Experimental flying-wing transport aircraft
National origin	Argentina
Manufacturer	DINFIA
First flight	1960
Number built	1

The DINFIA IA 38 was a 1960s Argentine four-engine experimental flying-wing transport, designed under the direction of Reimar Horten and based on the German Horten Ho VIII project and built by the DINFIA.

Development

The IA 38 was an experimental tailless cargo transport based on research by Reimar Horten. It was an all-metal shoulder-wing swept monoplane with the fuselage incorporated into the wing structure. It had no tail, vertical control surfaces were located near the tips of the wings. It had a retractable tricycle landing gear and was powered by four IA 16 El Gaucho radial engines mounted within the wings driving pusher propellers mounted clear of the wing trailing edge. It had a cockpit for a crew of two located on the leading edge of the wing and had a cargo compartment within and below the wing capable of carrying 6100kg (13,448lb) of freight using a rear access door. Although the prototype was completed in 1959 problems with engine cooling delayed the first flight to 9 December 1960. Horten was forced to use the IA 16 engines which were below the power rating of the intended powerplants. As a result, the craft was severely underpowered and showed a poor performance. After the project was cancelled, the IA 38 found its way into the grounds of the Aeronautical School, where it was used as a static display until a fire destroyed the aircraft's skin (suspected to have been an act of arson). The remains of the plane were scrapped afterwards.

Specifications (IA 38)

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 13.50 m (44 ft 3½ in)
• Wingspan: 32 m (105 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 133 m² (1,431.65 ft²)
• Empty weight: 8500 kg (18,739 lb)
• Gross weight: 16000 kg (35,274 lb)
• Powerplant: Four × IA 16 El Gaucho radial piston engine, 336 kW (450 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 250 (estimated) km/h (155 (estimated) mph)
• Range: 1250 (estimated) km (777 (estimated) miles)
• Service ceiling: 4500 (estimated) m (14,765 (estimated) ft)

References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing

See also

Related lists

• List of flying wing aircraft