Aerfer Ariete

Ariete
Role	Prototype fighter
Manufacturer	Aerfer
Designer	Sergio Stefanutti
First flight	27 March 1958
Primary user	Italian Air Force
Number built	2
Developed from	Aerfer Sagittario 2

The Aerfer Ariete (Italian for Ram) 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 an auxiliary rocket engine instead of the auxiliary turbojet, the Aerfer Leone, was abandoned before a prototype could be built.

Operators

Italy

Italian Air Force operated two aircraft for evaluation test[1]

Specifications (Ariete)

Data from Air Enthusiast[2], Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59[3]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
Height: 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 14.5 m² (156 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,291 lb)
Gross weight: 3,535 kg (7,793 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Derwent 9 turbojet engine, 16.2 kN (3,600 lbf) thrust
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce RSr.2 Soar turbojet engine, 8.025 kN (1,804 lbf) thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 1,125 km/h (699 mph, 607 kn)
Maximum speed: Mach 1.1
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 227 m/s (44,700 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 12,000 m (39,370 ft) in 4 minutes 20 seconds
Wing loading: 244 kg/m² (50 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.685
Take-off run: 500 m (1,640 ft)
Landing run: 900 m (2,953 ft)

Armament

Guns: 2 × 30 mm HS-825 cannon (30x136mm)

References

Notes

"Aerfer Ariete". Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
Swanborough 1971, p. 108.
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

Swanborough, Gordon. Air Enthusiast, Volume One. London: Pilot Press, 1971. ISBN 0-385-08171-5.

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[1] "Aerfer Ariete". Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved 3 June 2019.

[2] Swanborough 1971, p. 108.

[JAWA58-59-3] 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.