IAR 99 "Şoim" (Hawk) is an advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft capable of performing close air support and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is of semi-monocoque design, with tapered wings and a swept back tail unit. A large blade-type antenna installed beneath the nose on the port side of the fuselage gives the IAR 99 trainer a distinctive appearance.20 IAR 99s are in service now for the Romanian Air Force.
The design of the aircraft started in 1975 and this would be the first jet trainer fully designed and built in Romania. The prototype (S-001) flew on 21 December 1985, and the aircraft entered series production in 1987, with 17 aircraft delivered to the RoAF by 1989. Some upgrades were made in 1990 (together with the Texas-based Jaffe Aircraft Corporation), 1992 (with IAI Lahav of Israel), and 1996 (with the Israeli company Elbit). A modernized version, called IAR-99 TD, is currently being developed.
About the stamp
About the stamp, issued to mark the Christmas 2015, I wrote here.
References
IAR 99 - Wikipedia
Senders 2056: Eugen Mihai
Sent from Bucharest (Bucharest / Romania), on 20.11.2015
Photo: Eugen Mihai / October 7, 2015
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