Editing IAR 80 (section)

===Prototypes===
Work began on the IAR 80 prototype in late 1937, originally with an open cockpit and the {{convert|870|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[IAR K14|IAR&nbsp;K14&nbsp;IIIc32]] engine which was a licensed Gnome-Rhône&nbsp;14K&nbsp;II Mistral Major. The prototype was completed slowly, and first took to the air in April 1939. Test flights of the prototype were impressive; the aircraft could reach {{convert|510|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4000|m|ft|abbr=on}}, service ceiling of {{convert|11,000|m|ft|abbr=on}} with the ability to climb to {{convert|5,000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in 6 minutes,<ref name="Neulen p. 90.">Neulen 2000, p. 90.</ref> which was respectable at the time, though not up to the contemporary Supermarine Spitfire or [[Messerschmitt Bf 109|Messerschmitt Bf&nbsp;109]] fighters. In comparison the PZL&nbsp;P.24E was almost 450&nbsp;kg lighter, yet over 80&nbsp;km/h slower with the same engine. The IAR&nbsp;80 also proved to be enjoyable to fly and was maneuverable.

[[File:IAR-80-5.jpg|thumb|250px|IAR 80 cockpit]]

A number of minor problems turned up during the prototype phase, and were dealt with over the next year. To improve power the design was updated to mount the newer {{convert|930|hp|kW|abbr=on}} IAR&nbsp;K14&nbsp;IIIc36. However this engine was slightly heavier than the IIIc32, which required the rear fuselage to be stretched to move the [[Center of mass|center of gravity]] back into the proper position. The extra space in the fuselage allowed the fuel tanks to be increased in volume to {{convert|455|L|impgal|abbr=on}}. The wing was also enlarged and the tail was revised to eliminate the bracing struts.

A side effect of this extreme rearward position was that the pilot had even worse forward visibility while taxiing than most other taildraggers. To address this somewhat, the pilot's seat was raised slightly and a [[bubble canopy]] was added.

The updated prototype was tested competitively against the [[Heinkel He 112|Heinkel He&nbsp;112]], which had arrived in Romania as the start of a potentially large order. Although the He&nbsp;112 was more heavily armed with two machine guns and two 20&nbsp;mm cannon, the IAR&nbsp;80 proved to be a better design and the ARR ordered 100 IAR&nbsp;80s in December 1939 while only 30 He&nbsp;112s were accepted. The government in [[Bucharest]] ordered another 100 IAR&nbsp;80s in August 1940. Further orders for batches of 50 IAR&nbsp;80s followed on 5 September 1941 and 11 April 1942, then another 100 on 28 May 1942, to be followed by 35 of the IAR&nbsp;81C development in February 1943, with a further 15 in January 1944.<ref name="Neulen p. 90."/>