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VALSTS ELEKTROTECHMSKA FABRIKA |
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| LATVIA |
(Government Electrotechnical Factory) at Riga. Aviation division established 1935 under Karlis Irbitis, pioneer aircraft designer/builder in Latvia since mid-1920s. First production was 1-11 (Irbitis's 11 th design), two-seat low-wing monoplane, built 1936. A year later came improved 1-12. Single examples followed of small series of small, lightweight fighter/trainers and, in 1939, the 300mph (483kmh) 1-16 two/four-gun single-seat light fighter. VEF built 1-17 two-seat primary trainer for Latvian Air Force in 1940, and two 1-18 two-seaters developed from earlier Pulins/lrbitis I-8. When Latvia was invaded on June 17,1940, VEF had 380-400mph (612-644kmh) 1-19 fighter on drawing board.
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 All the World's Rotorcraft |
