Aeritalia G91
G91R, G91T, G91PAN and G91Y
Origin: Fiat SpA (now Aeritalia SpA); see text for multinational production
of earlier versions
Type: G91R and Y, single-seat tactical reconnaissance/fig! G9IT
two-seat weapon trainer; G91PAN. single-seat aerobatic display fighter
Engines: (G91R, T and PAN) one 5,000Ib (2268kg) thrust Rolls-Royce
{previously B then Bristol Siddeley) Orpheus 80302 single-shaft
turbojet; (G' eneral Electric J85-134 single-shaft augmented
turbojets e: at 4,080lb (1850kg) with full afterburner.
Dimensions: Span (G.91R, T, PAN) 28ft 1in (8:57m):; (G91¥) 29ft 63in
(901m); length (G971R, PAN) 33ft 93in (10-31m): (G91T. Y) 38ft 32in
(11-67m); height (G91R. PAN) 138ft 14in (4m): (G91T. ¥) 6in (443m)
Weights: Empty (G91R) typically 7.275lb (3300 (G91Y) 8.598Ib
(3900kg): maximum loaded (G91R) 12.500lb (5695kg); (G91Y) 19.180lb
(8700kg)
Performance: Maximum speed (G91R) 675mph (1086km/h); (G91¥)
690mph (1110km/h); initial climb (G91R) 6.000ft (1829m)/min: (G91¥)
17,000ft (5180m)/min; service ceiling (G91R) 43,000ft (13.106m)
(G9TY) 41,000ft (12,500m): combat radius at sea level (G91R) 196 miles
(318km); (G91Y) 372 miles (600km): ferry range (G91R) 1.150 miles
(1850km); (G91Y) 2.175 miles: (3500km).
Armament: (G91R/1) four 0-5in Colt-Browning machine guns, each with
300 rounds and underwing racks for ordnance load up to 500lb (227ka)
(G91R/3) two 30mm DEFA 652 cannon, each with 125 rounds, and under
wing racks for ordnance up to 1,000Ib (454kg); (G91Y) two DEFA 552
underwing load up to 4,000Ib (1814kg)
Heer: First flight 9 August 1956; (G91R) December 1958; (G91Y
scember 1966; (production G91Y) June 1971
(earlier versions) Angola, W Germany, Italy, Portugal.
Development: In December 1953 the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(NATO) announced a specifica for 4 light tactical strike fighter. It was
to be robust. simple ta maintain and capable of operation from rough
advanced airstrips, yet had to reach Mach 0-92 and be able to deliver con-
Right: Aeritalia
G91R/3 of West
German Luftwaffe
LeKG 43 based at
Oldenburg, a light
attack unit now
receiving Alpha Jets.o te —_
Above: Three-view of the twin-engined Aeritalia G91Y
ventional or tactical nuclear weapons. There were three French contenders
and the G91 from Italy. On the first flight the test pilot lost control and had to
eject, but orders had already been placed by the Italian government and
production was put in hand. As the design had been based on that of the
F-86, but on a smaller scale, the tail problem of the first prototype wes soon
rectified; but the French refused to have anything to do with the G91 and
the original customers — intended to be all the Continental NATO nations
were only Germany and Italy. Italy took 98 G91R/1, 1A and 1B plus 76
G91T/1, while Germany chose 50 R/3, 44 T/3 and 50 R/4, also building a
further 294 R/3 under licence by Messerschmitt (later MBB}, Heinkel (later
VFW-Fokker) and Dornier. The Orpheus was built by a further European
consortium. Among many other sub-variants is the PAN version of the
Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionali. The completely redesigned G91Y has much
greater thrust, better navigation aids and can fly fighter, attack or reconnais-
sance missions. Aeritalia, the company formed in 1969 jointly by Fiat and
Finmeccanica-IRI. delivered 46 to the Regia Aeronautica in 1971—76.
Below: A fast run at
very low level by an
Aeritalia G91Y, the
twin-engined version
now serving with the
Italian 8° and 32°
wings.