Aerfer Sagittario 2

The Aerfer Sagittario 2 (Italian for sagittarius) 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).

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

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)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
  • Height: 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 14.73 m2 (158.6 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 3.82
  • Airfoil: root: laminar symmetric 8.5% thick, tip: laminar symmetric 9.30% thick
  • Empty weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
  • Gross weight: 3,293 kg (7,260 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 1,200 l (320 US gal; 260 imp gal) in four fuselage tanks
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Derwent 9 centrifugal-flow turbojet, 16 kN (3,600 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,006 km/h (625 mph, 543 kn)
  • Range: 765 km (475 mi, 413 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 m (46,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 42 m/s (8,300 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: 12,000 m (39,370 ft) in 10 minutes
  • Wing loading: 227 kg/m2 (46 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) rockets

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. "Aerfer Sagittario II". Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  2. Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 187.

Bibliography
  • The Aeroplane, December 21, 1956, p. 924
  • Buttler, Tony. X-Planes of Europe II: Military Prototype Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946–1974. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications, 2015. ISBN 978-1-90210-948-0
  • Giuseppe Ciampaglia, Dal SAI Ambrosini Sagittario all'AERFER Leone, January 2004, IBN editore, with English translation by Stephen Richards
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