The DINFIA IA 45 Querandi was a 1950s

Argentine Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, s ...

twin-engined light transport aircraft built by the DINFIA.

Development

The IA 45 Querandi was designed as a twin engined light transport suitable for both private and as an air taxi. Work began on the new project in 1954, with work being suspended in 1955 and restarted in 1956. A twin-engined all metal high-wing cantilever monoplane with an upswept rear fuselage, it had a tailplane with two fins and rudders and retractable tricycle landing gear. It was powered by two

pusher configuration In an aircraft with a pusher configuration (as opposed to a tractor configuration), the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). Since a pusher propeller is mounted behind the engine, the drive shaft is in compression in nor ...

piston engines. The first prototype, powered by Lycoming O-320 engines, and seating five, first flew on 23 September 1957. It proved underpowered and was followed by a second prototype, powered by Lycoming O-360 engines, and accommodating six seats, which first flew on 15 November 1960. There was little interest in the IA 45 from Argentina's air taxi operators, who preferred imported American aircraft like the

Piper Apache The Piper PA-23, named Apache and later Aztec, is an American four- to six-seat twin-engined light aircraft aimed at the general-aviation market. The United States Navy and military forces in other countries also used it in small numbers. Origin ...

and the

Aero Commander 500 The Aero Commander 500 family is a series of light-twin piston-engined and turboprop aircraft originally built by the Aero Design and Engineering Company in the late 1940s, renamed the Aero Commander company in 1950, and a division of Rockwell ...

, and the programme was stopped in 1962, with no more production beyond the two prototypes. They continued to be flown by DIFNIA until 1966–1967, after which they were scrapped.

Variants

;IA 45 :Prototype powered by two

Avco Lycoming O-320 The Lycoming O-320 is a large family of naturally aspirated, air-cooled, four-cylinder, direct-drive engines produced by Lycoming Engines. They are commonly used on light aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee. Different variants ...

piston engines, one built, first flight 23 September 1957. ;IA 45B :Improved version with six seats and powered by two Lycoming O-360 piston engines, one built, first flight 15 November 1960.

Specifications (IA 45B)

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing * * {{FMA aircraft 1950s Argentine civil utility aircraft FMA aircraft Twin-engined pusher aircraft High-wing aircraft