Aerfer Sagittario 2

Sagittario 2
Sagittario 2 MM560 in Italian Air Force markings at the 1957 Paris Air Salon
Role Prototype fighter
Manufacturer Ambrosini
First flight 19 May 1956
Primary user Italian Air Force
Number built 2
Developed from Ambrosini Sagittario
Developed into Aerfer Ariete

The Aerfer Sagittario 2 (Italian for Archer) was a prototype all-metal single-seat lightweight fighter aircraft built in Italy by Aerfer, intended to serve as an interceptor or light tactical support aircraft. First flown in 1956, it became the first Italian aircraft to break the sound barrier in controlled flight when it reached Mach 1.1 during a dive from 13,725 m (45,000 ft).

Design and development

The Sagittario 2 was based on the earlier Sagittario, which was itself a development of the S.7 piston-engined training aircraft that went into service with the Italian Air Force in small numbers.

A small all-metal aircraft, the Sagittario 2 had its jet engine mounted in the nose, with the exhaust underneath the mid-fuselage. The wing and tail surfaces were highly-swept. The cockpit was moved forward of its position on the Sagittario's predecessors, and equipped with a bubble canopy. A tricycle undercarriage was fitted, with the nose gear retracting under the engine.

Development continued as the Ariete.

Operators

 Italy

Specifications (Sagittario 2)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 14.5 m2 (156 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: laminar symmetric 8.5% thick, tip: laminar symmetric 9.30% thick
  • Empty weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
  • Gross weight: 3,300 kg (7,275 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Derwent 9 centrifugal-flow turbojet, 16.2 kN (3,600 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (652 mph; 567 kn)
  • Range: 765 km (475 mi; 413 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 40.62 m/s (7,997 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 228 kg/m2 (47 lb/sq ft)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.49

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × Hispano-Suiza 30 mm (1.181 in) cannon with 300 rpg
  • Hardpoints: 2 with a capacity of 318 kg (701 lb),with provisions to carry combinations of:
    • Missiles: 2 × 318 kg (701 lb) napalm tanks
    • Bombs: 2 × 227 kg (500 lb) bombs
    • Other: 2 × machine guns or cannon
  • Rockets: 12 × 7.62 cm (3 in)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Official website Aeronautica Militare Archived November 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  • The Aeroplane, December 21, 1956, p. 924
  • Giuseppe Ciampaglia, Dal SAI Ambrosini Sagittario all'AERFER Leone, January 2004, IBN editore, with English translation by Stephen Richards
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