Ariete
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The Aerfer Ariete (Italian for Ram or Aries) was a prototype fighter aircraft built in Italy in 1958. It was a refined derivative of the Aerfer Sagittario 2, and was an attempt to bring that aircraft up to a standard where it could be mass-produced as a viable combat aircraft. Retaining most of the Sagittario 2's layout with a nose intake and ventral exhaust for the main Derwent engine, the Ariete added a Rolls-Royce Soar RS.2 auxiliary turbojet engine to provide additional power for climbing and sprinting. This used a dorsal, retractable intake with its exhaust at the tail. No production ensued; a proposed version with a de Havilland Spectre rocket engine instead of the auxiliary turbojet, the Aerfer Leone (Lion or Leo), was abandoned before a prototype could be built.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
- Manufacturer
- Aerfer
- Category
- Fighters
- First flight
- 1958-03-27
Specifications
- Cruise speed
- 607 kt
- Max speed
- 607 kt
- Service ceiling
- 39,000 ft
- Rate of climb
- 44,700 ft/min
- Max takeoff weight
- 7,793 lb
- Empty weight
- 5,291 lb
- Powerplant
- 1 × Rolls-Royce Derwent 9 turbojet engine, 16.2kN thrust; 1 × Rolls-Royce RSr.2 Soar turbojet engine, 8.025kN thrust
- Engines
- 2
- Seats
- 1
- Length
- 31.5 ft
- Wingspan
- 24.6 ft
- Height
- 10.8 ft
- Number built
- 2
Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.