4 results
Frontmatter
- Arno Landewers
-
- Book:
- Fiat G.91
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 02 April 2024
- Print publication:
- 28 November 2014, pp 1-1
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
Introduction
- Arno Landewers
-
- Book:
- Fiat G.91
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 02 April 2024
- Print publication:
- 28 November 2014, pp 4-56
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
The Fiat G.91 was based on NATO requirements and was developed in the second half of the fifties. It entered service with German and Italian air forces in the light strike role, and proved to be a sturdy and highly serviceable aircraft. With over 750 examples built it was a common sight at many exercises all over Europe.
For nearly 20 years the Italian Frecce Tricolori display team inspired countless spectators with their colorful aerial ballet. In 1995, after nearly forty years of service, the G.91 made its last flight.
G.91 ORIGINS
During the winter of 1953 NATO SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers, Europe) issued the first NATO basic requirement (NBRM), which concerned specifications for a light weight tactical strike fighter. The specifications were based on experiences in the Korean war (which ended in the summer of that year), where it became increasingly obvious that jet aircraft should be less complex, and, for close air support, be able to operate from unpaved runways. In general, costs, weight and complexity of military aircraft were rising at an ever-increasing rate, which was reflected in practical issues like the amount of ground equipment and maintenance needed. Also, the NBRM was a product of the thought that standardization would lead to a more effective military power buildup, while logistics would simplify and that producing large batches of complex weapon systems could suppress costs. In fact a lot was learned from a Russian MiG.15 captured in Korea. A few aircraft manufacturers were issued the NBRM spec in the form of a restricted tender, where the designs submitted were assessed by the AGARD (NATO Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development). Designs were received from Folland (Gnat), Hawker (lightweight version of Hunter), Bréguet (1002 Taon), Dassault (Mystère 26, later renamed Etendard VI), SNCASE (Durandal), Aerfer (Sagittario II) and Fiat (G.91). However, a number of designs were withdrawn again (for instance all British), for various reasons.
The Fiat design, the G.91, was a robust conventional aircraft, by contemporary press often described (and later almost standard cited) as having resemblance with the F-86 Sabre, something that could be said about every jet with a low swept wing, conventional shaped tail plane and nose-inlet. On the other hand, the license production of the F-86K gave Fiat a unique insight into design features of second generation jet planes, which without a doubt played a role in the G.91 design.
Fiat – a short history:
- Arno Landewers
-
- Book:
- Fiat G.91
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 02 April 2024
- Print publication:
- 28 November 2014, pp 2-3
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
The involvement of Fiat with the aviation industry started in the years before the First World War. In these days, one of the main issues for airplane designers was the development of reliable lightweight engines.
Fiat was established in 1899 as Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (the acronym FIAT was changed to Fiat in 1906). The next ten years Fiat built out its market position quickly by design and production of cars and vans. In 1908 it was decided to expand to aviation with the SA 8/75 engine, which was developed from a race car and had a high power to weight ratio. The introduction of Fiat as aircraft engine designer was not an immediate success; the European market was dominated by French Gnome, Antoinette and Renault, and German Mercedes, showing that there were more automobile manufacturers active in aviation. Only during the First World War the Fiat aircraft engines saw a wider use, especially the A10 and A12 were used in Italian aircraft designs as the SAML S.1 and S2 (total production about 660) and the Pomilio PE (over 1600 produced).
In 1916 Fiat started aircraft manufacturing with the establishing of the Società Italiana Aviazione (SIA), first concentrating on license production of the Farman MF and Pomilio types. With the SIA 5 a first own design was made, and the improved SIA 7, a light twin-seat bomber introduced in 1917 was produced in some numbers. With aircraft designer Celestino Rosatelli entering the company, and the purchase of Ansaldo after the war, Fiat started aircraft design and production under its own name. The R.2 was the first aircraft branded under the name Fiat, and in the 1920s and 1930s a range of aircraft appeared. Landmarks were the Fiat BR, and the CR.20, CR.30 and CR.42 fighters.
In 1931 the young aircraft designer Giuseppe Gabrielli entered Fiat. Gabrielli was educated by the eminent Theodore von Kárman in Aachen, Germany and worked some time at Piaggio. His vision and knowledge ensured that Fiat could follow the technological developments in the 1930s, and later in the 1950s. With the Fiat G.18 commercial transport monoplane the age of metal production was entered, and the 1938 G.50 could compete with any contemporary fighter. During 1943 the G.55 fighter appeared, an aircraft considered the top of the cream. Due to the collapse of the Fascist Mussolini regime production was limited to about 200 examples.
Fiat G.91
- Arno Landewers
-
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 02 April 2024
- Print publication:
- 28 November 2014
-
The Fiat G.91 was an Italian jet fighter aircraft. It was the winner of the NATO competition in 1953 for a light fighter as standard equipment for Allied air forces. It entered in operational service with the Italian Air Force in 1961, with the West German Luftwaffe in 1962, and later with the Portuguese Air Force.
It was in production for nineteen years. Seven hundred fifty six aircrafts were completed, including the prototypes and pre-production models. The assembly lines were finally closed in 1977. The Fiat G.91 enjoyed a long service life that extended over 35 years. It was widely used by Portugal in the Portuguese Colonial War in Africa.