WORLD AVIATION HISTORY

GINDEA IULIACLASA A XIII A B

PROIECT LA LB. ENGLEZA

AIRCRAFT HISTORY

Considered an unattainable dream, flying made passionate people build various and strange machines that try to get up in the air. But barely a century ago, the Wright brothers were able for the first time in America, to attempt the first-flight with a heavier than air. Their airplane flew only a few feet. From then until today, the planes have evolved, getting to make flights between continents, with a speed that exceeds that of sound. All this performance is due to greatest inventors, who most often were pilots of their own planes, risking their life. Dream of flying began with the legend of Icarus. Inprisoned by King Mini, the son of Daedalus has made two wings of wax and feathers stuck high in the air trying to escape. Approaching the sun, the wax melted in the heat and Icarus plunged into the sea. In the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci's famous thought, besides other fantastic machines, was related to a machine that man could fly. Carefully studying the flight of birds, he designed a machine called "orthoptera." Its wings would have to be moved with the hands and feet of a man, a procedure that proved to be impossible. Da Vinci’s plan then fell into oblivion for a long time.

Later in the eighteenth century, Italian Francesco Lana-Terzi imagined flying a ship that was supposed to get up in the air by four metal balls full of air. This fantastic project published in 1670 remained unrealized. However, in the late eighteenth century, the man managed to climb into the sky with a hot air balloon. In the next century there are built the first gliders (with arched wings as birds) by Otto Lilienthal, who also died in such an attempt to conquer the air. But the glider was the first step toward building a machine heavier than air able to move under its own power. It will be airplane.

In 1897, Frenchman Clement Ader managed to get up into the air with a device built by himself, which looked like a big and strange bird. Put into operation a propeller engine that makes the airplane to budge from the ground. Some believe that this was the first airplane ever to fly. In fact, "flight" or was a leap of several feet. Probably the first truly successful flight was not taken with your brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright a few years later, in 1903. These Americans were able to raise the airplane for 12 seconds, the flight took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (USA).

Thereafter begins to be built and other airplanes, in America and Europe. But, then, they just stood in the air. Those who watched "flight" were forced to sleep on the grass to see if their wheels were lifted off the ground or not. Over time, however, the airplanes were improved, managed to fly higher and higher and more quickly.

Air secret Adolf Hitler (1944)

The best engineers specialized in rebuilding vintage aircraft, managed to faithfully reproduce Adof Hitler's last hope to win the war. Scientists have recreated the Horten 2-29, a secret Nazi plane, whose mass production was started too late for Hitler could win the Second World War.

Horten 2-29 was kept secret until today by Allies, which is the most powerful weapon developed in the Second World War. Many experts believe that air war was so advanced and futuristic that if it had been built in series, Earth's history would have looked different than we know it today. To achieve perfect copies, to the team of experts it was made available only aircraft Horten 2-29 currently existing in the world and held for 50 years in a secret U.S. military base. Ho 2-29 suspect wings much like those of American bomber B-2. Consisting largely of wood, invisible Nazis’ plane had a top speed of 970 km./ h. Its weapons consist of two bombs of 500 kg each, and four 30 mm automatic cannon. Ho 2-29 first flew successfully on Christmas Eve of 1944, Lufftwaffen's not being able to use this revolutionary weapon. According to Tom Dobrenz, an expert in Northro trap Grumman, said that Hitler's favorite aircraft design shows major advantages even for military radars today. German engineering team, whose capital projects are also available too, produced a fighter plane to sneak into enemy territory unnoticed by radar. In short, the Horten 2-29 was the first airplane ever designed to be a successful hunter in invisible air combat.

A brief history of Romanian Aviation 1529. - Conrad Haas’ rocket makes first steps in Sibiu. 1702. - Outlaw Gligor Pintea built wheeled and wrapped gliders in buckskin. 1765. – peasant Constantin Nestor built a wooden glider apparently and flew. 1818. - In the presence of Prince Caragea, the first release of a hot air balloon

("blisters of                   Caragea ") takes place in Bucharest on Spirii Hill. 1875. - Gregory Prince Sturdza built in Iasi a plane that Spinzi gym teacher

makes a release. 1880. - George Vaarlam Ghiţescu designs a flask fitted airship with direction. 1883. - George Ferikide designs a spherical airship. 1884. - Ion Stoica built in Transylvania an aircraft that imitares birds and a

miniature helicopter. 1886. - Alexander Ciurcu with Frenchman Just Buisson make the first jet engine

that will propel a boat on the Seine. 1893. - Onset air weapon in Romania: atBucharest there is created the first air

aerostation subunit. To this end, they purchased a balloon in France. - Michael Brăneanu designed a metal airship filled with hydrogen which has an

internal combustion engine. 1903. - On 16 February Traian Vuia presents at the Paris Academy of Sciences

a draft of an "airplane-car". The project is rejected, which will force him to take off after the Wright brothers.

1905. - Smith and Boicescu, two Romanian engineers with Austrian mechanic Schwartz, performed in Vienna a system which will allows routing of zeppelins.

1906. - On February 2, Traian Vuia showed the public the plane Vuia 1. - On 18 March Traian Vuia has the first success with the first plane, he

takes off and flies over a length of 12 m at a height of about 60 cm. He is the first autonomous flight mechanic in the world.

1907. - Traian Vuia flies and tests the device Vuia 2.   - Henri Coanda tries to design for the Army the pyrotechnic rocket

engine for aircraft propulsion. 1908. - Theodore Dobrescu designs a multiplanein Slatina. 1909. - Ernest Grünbaum made in Romania a scale model airplane flying. - In Bucharest Giovanni Magnani builds a flying machine called the

ornithopter. - Tache Brumărescu obtains a patent for a helicopter and a single engine

biplane with three propellers. - Aurel Vlaicu from Binţinţi first attempts to make the glider built by Henri

August of Florida. On 14 November, Aurel Vlaicu starts building his first airplane, Vlaicu 1 in Bucharest, the Army arsenal place.

- George Arion designs a propeller plane directly coupled to the motor. 1910. - George Valentin Paris Bibescu gets a patent pilot, 20th in the

world. He purchased four planes from France  Farman, who will be the first aviation school in Chitila.

1914. - In France George Grămăticescu tries one of the first monoplane aircrafts.

- Stephen Stănculescu projects in Craiova Flip ordered a plane. - It ended in a military arsenal by collaborators with Vlaicu, Vlaicu device 3.

Performs satisfactorily tested in flight. 1915. - On 10 august Romanian Aviation Corps is established, under Colonel I.

Găvănescu. 1916. - military aviation is set up in fotoaerian service. - On 16 august Romania declares war against Austria-Hungary. Shortly after

Germany declared war against Bulgaria and Turkey  - Romanian Air Force takes part in all battles, in Transylvania, south of the

Danube and Wallachia. - The first sustained aerial bombing of Bucharest by German zeppelins. - Schools of Romanian military pilot are unified and moved during the

evacuation, the Barlad, Botosani and Odessa. - In October aallied military mission led by General Berthelot arrives in

Romania, aimed at the total reorganization of the Romanian military aviation. - On December 17, Aeronautics Division is established, subject to the General

Staff of the Romanian Army. 1917. - Hermann Oberth in Sighisoara made a huge project in stages about

military missiles , with liquid fuel. The project stirrs the interest of Austrian and German military authorities.

- Nieport and Breguet-Michelinnter enter in the Romanian Army modern aircraft,, the French production, unfortunately the number is insufficient.

- Romanian Air Force takes part with much heroism in battles at Marasesti, Marasti and Oituz doing particularly flights, but undertakes aerial reconnaissance and combat with the enemy Austro-German superior numbers and quality. A total of 28 Romanian pilots lost their lives in the campaign from 1916-1917.

1918. - Get health aeronautical Romanian birth. - Traian Vuia at Garches in France, starting with French Yvonne,

construction of helicopters. 1919. - At the Paris peace talks, Titulescu proposes to create a

transcontinental aviation company with French and Romanian capital. The company will be created Franco-Romanian Air Navigation (CFRNA), the first of its kind in the world.

- In Bucharest first aircraft factory in the country arises, which will be called first, modest arsenal aircraft.

1920. - On 23 April arises formally CFRNA - Franco- a Romanian Air Navigation Company.

- Romanian Royal Air Club is establishment. - Division of the Ministry of Communications Aviation Establishment. - first military base of the new hydro-aviation in Constanta. 1921. - The first industrially manufactured aircraft in Romania: 20 copies

of German aircraft Hansa-Brandenburg.

1922. - CFRNA lines are extended to Bucharest and Istanbul. - George Bothezat makes in, Dayton, USA the first attempts with his

helicopter. 1923 - New General Inspectorate of the Ministry of War Aeronautics is

established.         - Michael Philip patent in France plane called stable-plane. - The ASTRA Arad starts production of aircraft. - In Bucharest, the initiative engineer Gregory Zamfirescu arises Society for

Technical Exploitation (SET), which will become a factory for repaired and built aircrafts

- The plants ASTRA Arad plane Proto-1 is built (Astra-Şeşefschi). 1924 - The engineer Constanta Radu STOIK builds more seaplanes in the

company STC. - The arsenal aircraft are converted from bombers de Havilland DH-9 into

passenger planes at Cotroceni - Proto-2 plane at plants ASTRA Arad. 1925 - Aurel Biju and Eugene Sziklay participating in aerial parachute

demonstrations of their own design. - Factory ASTRA Arad is transferred to Brasov, which arises Romanian

Aeronautical Industry (IAR). - The first domestic airline (Bucharest-Galaţi). - The resort is organized as a shooting and bombing school.    CFRNA is broken, instead it creates another company, International Air

Navigation Company (CIDNA), where Romania has 19% stake.

1926. - Romanian Association for Propaganda Agency (ARPA). 1927 - The first Romanian wind tunnel design developed by Ion Stroescu. - National Air Navigation Services (SNNA). - In Cluj, Iasi and Galati there are designed aircraft repairing workshops. - Romeo Smith sets national record altitude: 9403 m - George Bănciulescu becomes the first pilot to fly with protheses on both legs. - Hidroscala from Mamaia Siutghiol. 1928 - The plane is built in Bucharest at SET SET-3 school. - Elie Carafoli and Ion Stroescu create first aerodynamic laboratory. - Traian Burduloiu, George Iacobescu and Michael Black perform raids of European capitals. 1929 - Italian General (later Marshal) Italo Balbo lands in Constanta with a squadron of 35

seaplanes. - IX Fernic plane is built by Romanian-American engineer George Fern. - Legislation of commercial aviation. 1930 - In France ,Anastase Dragomir patentes a parachute rescue system of pilots, later

adopted worldwide. - National Aviation Fund, which derives from compulsory aviation stamps. - Ionel Ghica establishes national distance record, flying 2,000 km from England to Bulgaria. - Great Palazu Hidroscala from the Siutghiol. - Romeo Smith sets a national record time, flying almost 21 hours. - On 23 October engineer George Fernic dies at a rally held in Chicago air. - Elie Carafoli and Lucien Virmoux project and build the first Romanian plane wing

monoplane low and CV-11. 1931- Romanian Raid on Paris-Calcutta (Trajan Burduloiu and George Valentin Radu Beller

Bibescu).

1933 - Air France is created in Paris by merging with other companies CIDNA French.

- Type 4 Stabiloplane the inventor Philip Michael. - The first flight of a glider in Romania executed in Sibiu by Egon Pastior . 1935 - National altitude record set by Alexander Papanui: 11,631 m - Raid on the route Bucharest Romanian - Kapetown, stopped at Lake Victoria

(Peter Ivanov and Irina Burnaia). - The great Romanian aviator George Bănciulescu dies in a hospital in Cairo due to

a tropical disease, - Three Romanian aircrafts ICAR Universal execute a raid on Bucharest-Kapetown

(23,000 miles) and back. - Sartori (Societe Anonyme Romanian Air Transport). - League of Romanian Aviators. - Crossing the Carpathians two gliders towed by one plane (Valentin Popescu and

Hubert Clompe).  - In civil aviation equipment within the first aircraft manufactured in Romania:

Commercial ICAR, which can carry 5 passengers. 1936 - Ace of acrobatics, Alexander Papanui, ranks first World Cup

aerobatics,  conducted in the United States. - Romanian Royal Aeronautics Federation. - Sartori put into operation the Bucharest-Prague with stops in Cluj, Uzgorod and

Piestany. - It established the Ministry of Air and Navy in the composition of which includes

Air Force Command. - Alexander Papanui wins the U.S. Championship of the two Americas. 1937 – the engineer Radu Irimescu becomes Minister of Air and Marine - In place of air transportation companies and Sarti was founded LARES one nine

anonymous society - Romanian Air Lines.

1938 - The new Minister of Air and Marine is Paul Teodorescu. Both Radu Teodorescu Irimescu and Paul were concerned by constant military aviation insurance in Romanian imports in terms of a relatively small budget.

- Cristea Constantinescu designs a helicopter rotor with variable pitch. - Competition air of Poland and the Little Entente (Czechoslovakia,

Yugoslavia and Romania), held on a circuit of 4,000 km, is to defeat Romanian engineer Lidner.

- Hermann Oberth designes two planes with rocket mater in Medias. 1939 - The first flight of IAR-80 fighter after the designs of Ion Grosu. - Ionel Cociasu runs alone a raid on Bucharest DIASTAL Bombay and back. - Aeronautical Administration and Navy establishments (ASAM), the

composition of which includes aviation arsenal. - Matthew Ghica Cantacuzino sets national record for flight duration: 24

hours and 24 minutes. - After unleashing the Second World War General Staff of the Romanian

Army planner, "Hypotheses 32" providing Romania with 84 deffense aviation squadrons with a total of 838 aircraft, 332 up and 350 school planes. On September 1, 1939 Romania had 2,617 officers and NCOs pilots, air observers 267, 218 radio signal board and 239 machine guns

1940 - Consequence of agreements signed with the government Gigurtu Germany : German military and civilian aircrafts of higher quality are imported.

- Ministry of Air and Navy is abolished and the Air Undersecretary of State established (SSA), built in Ministry of War.

- To be protected from possible damage into the war, modern fleet of LARES is withdrawn from most of the hangars.

1941 - On 22 June, Romania declares war against the USSR. Air Force takes part in the operations from that day, Romanian pilots showing not only bravery, but also professionalism. In the first year of , Romanian fighter planes 109 and IAR Meserschmitt 80 dominated technically the old Soviet fighter planes.

- In Romania the licensed production of German aircraft performance (Meserschmitt 109, Heinkel He 111, Fieseler Storch and so on) starts.

- Group airtransport army is strengthened by the transfer of aircraft and pilots from LARES.

- Hermann Oberth receives German citizenship (which not asked) and is called under arms to Peenemünde, where works German military shooting range missile, code-named Fritz Hann , about which allies don’t know who he is.

1942 - Romanian Air Force takes part in air battles over the Soviet Union. It highlights a few aces of Romanian aviation, including Bazu Cantacuzino.

- "White Squadron" medical aircraft piloted by Nadia Russo and which included also the women pilots Boss, Mariana Drăgescu, Virginia Duţescu and Virginia Thomas, wins the admiration of all, saving thousands of Romanian and German soldiers on the Eastern Front.

- On October 3, the German rocket 4 (V 2), built by Wernher von Braun, reaches an altitude of 84.5 km - first object who entered into space. This project was led by Hermann Oberth who had 70 fixes.

- Romanian Air Force participates in late November, with the German air force, at the evacuation of wounded troops during the battle of Stalingrad, operating in very difficult conditions.

1943 - In January, the Romanian aviation continues evacuate troops encircled at Stalingrad.

- Fierce battle in the air to bend Don and the rest of the front, this time against a Soviet enemy aircraft equipped with modern equipment, most indigenous production.

- From April starting, U.S. bombing raids on Ploiesti refinery, which had the best defended antiaircraft fortress around Europe. Raids are carried out with aircrafts B 24 Liberator, without any escort. At first, bombers would take off from Libya to Benghazi and then in Italy, from Foggia. Romanian and German fighter aircraft will lead a relentless battle against American aircrafts that loss a big percentage, being the worst defeat during the all Second World War.

1944 - A plane B 24 Liberator, captured by Romanians, is reinstated in Romanian colours. - Romanian Air Force takes part in the evacuation of Crimea. - Romanian and German fighter aviation keep fighting in terms of increasingly difficult

conditions for Allied squadrons, bombardments becoming more numerous. - In June, it takes place the spectacular desertion of aviator Matthew Ghica Cantacuzino with a

Heinkel He 111 bomber plane. He is hospitalized in Turkey. Into the plane there were to be found, among others, and industrialist Max Auschnit.

- Romanian military aviation is taken totally by surprise by the Act on 23 august. . - On 24 august, German dive bomber aircraft bombes Bucharest and the National Theatre is

destroyed and partially the Royal Palace. - Romanian Air Force is forced to fight alongside the Soviets against former German allies,

which Romanian military pilots either refuse or (especially) run absolutely formal orders. Romanian military aircraft are repainted over the cross with arms in the form of "M", keeping only the tri-colour cockade.

 - Romanian Air Corps, which are directly subordinate to the Red Army, have a campaign of 9  months on the Western Front and the Romanian aviation has always been humiliated,

marginalized and even deliberately destroyed by subject "ally" Soviet.   - In early September airfield struggles take place in Sibiu between Romanian troops and

"allied" Soviet  who wanted to occupy land by force of aviation. 1945 - From January most schools of aviation are abolished, along with battalions of

paratroopers, ASRP and air clubs from Brasov, Prahova and Oltenia. Those measures dictated by the USSR have in mind a single purpose: the complete destruction of Romanian aviation.

1946 – abolition measures continue: all air clubs are closed along with all aviation sports associations, all schools and their assets, including planes, are confiscated by the state. All these measures are produced with the consent or indifference of Groza government.

- SET factory is closed in Bucharest and Aviasan is named at the Ministry of Health.

1947 - Part of the NPP leadership is trying to leave the country on board a small biplane, but this attempt fails. Groza government outlaws the party and its leaders are all arrested along with Maniu.

- Enterprise ICAR is completely liquidated by the communists in Romania . The Romanian aviation industry performance is destroyed for about two decades, with profound negative consequences, fully felt until today.

- The number of military planes is reduced to only 168 devices (about 15% from what was Romania in 1939)

1948 – the oppresive measures continue with communists infiltrated in all aviation organizational structures because USSR wants the Romanian air army to be entirely dependent on the Soviet command structures and on imports of aircraft and aviation material

1949 - Aviation Command is subordinated only to Soviet military aviation. - Air Force is equipped with the first production aircraft with Soviet piston

engine. - In Brasov aircraft production is very modest: engineer Radu Manicatide

builds IAR-811 and IS-2 and Iosif Şilimon builds a glider. Exclusively flywheel is in this country. Although restrictions are maintained,

air forces and aircraft production continue in RPR - Cold War starts "officially". 1950 - They reopened a number of aviation schools, particularly related to

sports after a full Soviet organization. - Army Parachute Battalion is reopened in RPR. - Air Force is renamed the Romanian Air Force (FAM) and Air Force Command Headquarters Military Aviation becomes (CFAM). - Franco-American parachuting debut in Romania. The parachute is selected

from the Legionary Movement and the Romanian National Committee. The Romanian plane fails to break any American or French aircraft and to intercept one of the parachutes which will be much later captured by Security.

- Returned to Romania, Traian Vuia will die two months later. He is buried at Bellu cemetery in Bucharest.

1951 - The Romanian Air Force is among the first jet aircraft which Soviet starts production (IAK-17 and IAK-23), totally obsolete with Technical MiG-15.

1952 - Well equipped MiG-15, is shown in combat in Korea as one of the best in the world.

- Sport parachuting develops through the establishment of some additional 9 centres because Soviet military strategy requires that armies of satellite countries to better develop this weapon for a future massive invasion of the West.

953 - Romanian Air Code is created, the work of Alexander Danielopol. He also suggests that transport is organized into two separate ministries, aviation and marine

- Sport aviation is militarized, being taken over by so-called Voluntary Association for Supporting Homeland Defense (AVSAT) – after the Soviet model.

1954 - On September 18 TARS and TAROM are dismantled . - An aircraft repair company starts operating in Bacau. 1956 – In civil aviation the plane Il-14 are equipped with piston engines. 1958 - A delegation PMR and Romanian government, led by Gheorghe

Gheorghiu-Dej, visit the Far East aboard two TAROM planes Il-14. Romanian pilots were able to fly with the outstanding performance airplane with a short-range action to Pyongyang, Beijing, Ulan Bator, Hanoi, Rangoon, etc.

- Justin Capra and Ion Munteanu built before the Americans a jet engine project for individual flight (so-called flying backpack) and the first successful attempts are made at Băicoi. Patent will be achieved in 1961

1960 - The Soviet influence in Romania starts gradually and cautiously to be reduced. A first consequence is demilitarization in sports aviation, passing the Union for Physical Culture and Sports (UCFS). Central Aero Club of RPR is Romanian Federation  Aviation

1961 - Octavian Băcanu sets a new world record for distance on closed circuit with the Romanian IAR-814 airplane, flying 4462.87 km.

   George S. Popoiu patents plane-helicopter, an aircraft with vertical take-off rotors and vertical landing.

- The first TAROM for passengers between the first modern aircraft, Il-18, long-haul, equipped with four turboprop engines with seats up to 119 passengers.

1962 - The establishment of the first military helicopter subunits. - TAROM plane Il-18, located in the middle of crossing the Aegean Sea, in

total engine failure, lands on its belly on farming land in Cyprus. Special skills crew saved the lives of all those on board.

1963 - The first action taken by a Romanian helicopter rescue team: they saved 22 Turkish sailors on a ship wrecked in the Black Sea.

1964 - Establishment of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, subject MTANA separated by TAROM.

- Radu Manicatide builds the seaplane IAR-818 H-hydro. 965 - Nicolae Ceausescu becomes the de facto person no. 1 in state and

he is determined to develop weapons in Romanian industry and to revive the industry.

- Romania accedes to the International Civil Aviation Organization

1966 - An Il-14 plane of TAROM crosses the Atlantic for the first time. 1968 - Nicolae Ceausescu imposes in March, in the CC plenum of the RCP, an

extensive program to develop weapons industry, including the aircraft. - New industrial mechanics and aeronautics plant . 1969 – It is manufactured under a license the first western aircraft - British

passenger plane BN-2, equipped with two piston engines. - It is opened the international passenger airport in Otopeni, which is

renamed "Henri     Coanda " after the Revolution in 1989 1970- Together with other communist countries, Romania joins the Soviet

space program "Intercosmos". - TAROM plane Il 14 is diverted from Oradea airport to Vienna, where air

pirates will receive symbolic punishment being considered political victims of the communist regime in Romania.

- Henri Coanda is repatriated to Romania, Ceausescu will give him great honour.

971 - The first college of aeronautical engineering is established in Bucharest, now of 974 Department of Aircraft, faculty prepares outstanding professionals.

1972- The aircraft factory in Craiova is established, which aims to manufacture the first Romanian military plane jet - IAR-93.

1981 - Ceausescu decides to abolish Aviasan. - The first Romanian cosmonaut Dumitru Prunariu in space (Soyuz 4). - The Enterprise Aircraft Bucharest builds the first agricultural plane IAR-

827, which would have to replace the An-2 device. - The official debut in Romania of Deltaplan as an aircraft. - The first flight of an aircraft BAC 1-11 (ROMBAC) built in Bucharest

under license. - In Suceava is made the dvice AL-34-00, to launch gliders. 1983 - First flights, domestic and international with ROMBAC planes.

Until 1989, Romania will build a total of 9 units. 1984 - IAR 93 with afterburner. - Ceausescu decides to limit imports to a minimum to pay foreign debt in

record time, which will create new difficulties to Romanian aeronautical industry, facing chronic annual deficits. So Romanians unlawfully attempt to board planes or sport utility.

1985 - Almost complete isolation of Romania, especially politically. 1988 – There is the first flight of subsonic jet aircraft IAR-99 Falcon. 1989 - On December 22 it occurs in Romania a Soviet coup extraction. - Ceausescu flys by helicopter from the roof of the CC of the RCP, after a

stopover in Snagov where the helicopter is abandoned. Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu are on Bucharest-Pitesti highway and their pilot, Basil Malutan, dies later in a curious helicopter accident .

1990. - New governments of Romania, organized in so-called National Salvation Front (NSF) stops the Soviet production and decides to put the arms industry stocks most of Romania, the main target being the aviation industry. The measure has only partly economic and financial justification - being dictated from outside.

- The new government, led by Petre Roman, to demonstrate that there is a certain continuity with the communist regime, refuses to change the name of national aviation company TAROM LARES and also refuses to restore his cross military aircraft.

- ROMBAC is stopped from manufacturing aircrafts 1991 – the first Airbus 320 is bought from France and Belgium in an onerous

contract, which was not lit to the present. According to articles in the Romanian press time, Petre Roman is suspected to be charged with undue charges for this contract.

1992 - The Government actively studying the problem of disposal the aircraft factories in Craiova, Bacau and that which produces helicopters in Brasov.

- It decides keeping MiG 21 fleet, which will be modernized by a company from Israel.

1995 - A type TAROM Airbus 320 plane bought from Brussels, crashes shortly after taking off from the Otopeni airport and all passengers and crew lose their lives. Circumstances of the accident remain unclear until now.

- TAROM decide for financial reasons, to become exclusively a company that will operate only in Europe, giving full overseas flights.

1998 - A new aviation onerous contract signed by Romania emerges: "Contract Puma" (modernizing of Romanian helicopters in South Africa), which directly involved Benone Ghinea, an agent of Romanian foreign intelligence services (SIE).

2000 - The re-launched production of the IAR-99 Hawk aircraft factory in Craiova.

- Romania waive onerous contract manufacture of helicopters under license signed previously with Bell Helicopters company of

   U.S.