| IAIA aircraft manufacturer commitment to advanced technology The Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association (IAIA) has more than 60 years' experience in aircraft manufacture. |
IAIA was founded in 1932 and
originally manufactured combat aircraft for the USSR's far east frontiers. In February
1935 the first IAIA I-14 fighter made its maiden flight. This all-metal monoplane was one
of the first in Europe to have retractable landing gear, a machine gun and an enclosed
cockpit. Its advanced design required a long period of development to encompass complex
technologies and new methods of production so preference was given to the I-16, already
part of the Russian air force inventory. |
![]() Hard at work on the IAIA airfield |
In 1943 IAIA went into production of the
Er-2 long-range bombers. These combat aircraft with their unique diesel engines played an
active part in World War II. Advanced technology was used in the manufacture of over sized
parts from high-strength alloys using a great deal of welding. The length of welds in the
Er-2 structure was ten times more than that used in the US's B-17 or the UK's Lancaster. In 1951 IAIA launched the new-generation aircraft that included the Tu-14 (Bosun) jet torpedo carrier and the II-28 (Beagle) front- line bomber. |
In 1957 the company started to manufacture the An-12
heavy-transport turbo-prop planes capable of operating from unpaved airfields. Since 1957
these aircraft have been carrying air freight in many countries and enjoying popularity
similar to that of the US C-130 Hercules. Many of the features of the An 12 were used in
the An-24 (Coke) transport version that was manufactured between 1967 and 1971. |
![]() The Be-200 amphibian can be adapted to suit a wide variety of specifications ![]() One of the company's most recent developments, the Yak-112 light four-seat plane |
IAIA also produces the economical multi
purpose Be-200 amphibian designed by the Beriev Design Bureau. It can operate from bodies
of water with a minimum of two metres depth and in wave heights of up to 1.2 metres as
well as from unpaved airfields with runways 1,800 metres long. The Be-200 can easily be
converted to various configurations:a fire-fighting version can be used to control forest
fires through shuttle flights to the nearest body of water, and other versions can be used
for cargo and passenger carriage, search-and-rescue operations, sea reconnaissance,
geological team servicing and as an ambulance aeroplane. |
| IAIA is the second aircraft manufacturer in Russia to have the unique equipment for strengthening oversized parts using advanced technologies. In 1997 IAIA became the first aircraft manufacturer in Russia to receive ISO 9000 certification. |