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.