IAR (PZL) P.11F - Polish/Romanian fighter

PZL P.11a (called "Eleven") is a Polish single-engine metal-construction fighter with a Puławski wing, classic tail and fixed landing gear. The first flight of the prototype took place in 1931, but serial production began only in 1937 and continued from 1937 to 1939. The first production version was the PZL P.11a, powered by the Bristol "Mercury" IV S2 550 h. p. power engine. However, this version was treated as a transitional version and only 50 were ordered. In the summer the most famous version of the "eleven" appeared - the PZL P.11c. It had an improved fuselage, wing and keel. All this improved the aerodynamics of the plane. The engine remained the same. Interest in the acquisition and license production of the aircraft was shown by Romania, where 95 units of the license PZL P.11 were produced at the IAR factories, where they were designated IAR (PZL) P.11f. At the start of the war, all versions of the P.11 were much slower, than the German fighters, but at the same time they were more maneuverable, had better climbing characteristics and had less engine failure, than the German planes. Pilots of these aircraft won a number of victories in Poland during the September campaign, mainly as part of the Pursuit Brigade. The Romanians installed other engines - "Gnome - Rhone" 9Krsd - which they produced under license in their manufactured fighters. These engines were developed in the 600 h. p. power. The completed version of the "eleven" is marked P.11f. They were used in the invasion of the USSR, but then only 56 airworthy aircraft of this type remained in service, with which 6 squadrons were armed.

From the publication a copy of the plane with the serial number 122 can be made. This plane was flown by Christulas Christu in the 3rd Fighter Flotilla during the attack on the USSR. This Flotilla operated in the Odesa area, which was also bombed by PZL P.38B "Loš" bombers of Polish production, which escaped to Romania and were interned there. The "122" fighter was removed from combat operations in 1942 and transferred to the Flying School in Pipera, where it served until the end of the war, but after the war it was still used for pilot training until 1948. The model, while well designed and well detailed, is not very complex. Designed to be assembled by the advanced beginner and, when working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, it can also be glued by the novice and less experienced modeler. It is possible to choose "summer" (wheels) and "winter" (skis) version of the chassis.