The Ikarus 451 is a family of research aircraft designs built in Yugoslavia in the 1950s, all sharing the same basic airframe, but differing in powerplants and cockpit arrangements. One member of the family Ikarus 451M became the first domestically-built jet aircraft to fly in Yugoslavia, on 25 October 1952.
To research prone-pilot cockpit arrangements and controls, the Government Aircraft Factories developed the Ikarus 232 Pionir, a small twin-engined low-wing monoplane, powered by 2x Walter Mikron IIIpiston engines. An enlarged version of the Pionir was developed as the Type 451, powered by 2x Walter Minor 6-III piston engines. The first aircraft built under this designation was a propeller-driven aircraft that accommodated the pilot in prone position. It was an otherwise conventional low-wing monoplane with retractable tailwheel undercarriage, the main units of which retracted backwards into the engine nacelles mounted below the wings. This flew in 1952, and by the end of the year was followed by the 451M which had conventional seating for the pilot and in place of the two Walter Minor 6-III inline engines of the original Ikarus 451 wingspan, a maximum speed of 335 km/h and a ceiling of 4750m was fitted with Turbomeca Palas turbojets. In this version, the undercarriage retracted inwards. Provision was made to carry one 20 mmHispano Suiza 404A cannon under the fuselage, plus six RS rockets under the wings. Further developments were aimed at developing a viable military aircraft from this basic design. The S-451M Zolja that flew in 1954 featured a stretched fuselage, folding wings, and redesigned engine nacelles, now in the same plane as the wing rather than being hung under them. In 1960 a S-451M Zolja set a speed record for aircraft with a takeoff weight from to, flying at 500.2 km/hour. It then served as the basis for the development of an armed version, the J-451MM Stršljen intended for the close-support role. This differed from preceding designs in having a tricycle undercarriage, as well as Turbomeca Marbore engines with over twice the thrust of those used on earlier aircraft, and armament increased to two HS.404 cannon carried under the fuselage. This configuration then formed the basis for the S-451MM Matica two-seat trainer that set an airspeed record for aircraft weighing between and, achieving 750.34 km/hour in 1957. It was also developed into the T-451MM Stršljen II single-seat acrobatic trainer. No member of the family was produced in any number. The 451, 451M, and J-451MM are all preserved at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade.
Variants
;232 Pionir:A small twin-engined prone-pilot research aircraft, powered by 2x Walter Mikron III piston engines. ;S-451 ;S-451M ;S-451M Zolja ;J-451MM Stršljen ;S-451MM Matica ;T-451MM Stršljen II
