"After WWII, the Designers Group No.9 (Of the General Direction of Aeronautical Industry), headed by Dragoljub Bešlin, designed firstly light experimental two engine plane Pionir 232, and then Type 451, which took off first time on 22nd September 1951, with test pilot Radivoje Glavičić, at controls. Due to aircraft shape and dimensions, small front surface and a trifle drag, in spite of underpowered propulsion, the plane was fast, and pilot without any problem sustained 9 "Gs” force. But negative consequences of pilot prone position. as were neck vertebrae strain and breathing difficulties, and absence or rear view, but also appearance of anti-G suits, were decisive to give up of further developing of aircraft of such configuration. In the "Ikarus” two samples were made, (451/I and 451/II), which, after being tested at the Air Test Center were withdrawn off the service in 1957.
Exhibited aircraft is the second prototype, and was designated 451/II. First flight was on 26th February 1952,was performed by test pilot Tugomir Prebeg. After two years of trails and evaluations, was removed from an inventory, ad given to the Air Technicians and Engineers Training Center at Rajlovac, and definitely reached the Air Museum’s collection."
