The Aerfer Sagittario 2 ( Italian for sagittarius ) was a prototype all-metal single-seat lightweight fighter aircraft built in Italy by Aerfer , intended to serve as an interceptor or light tactical support aircraft. First flown in 1956, it became the first Italian aircraft to break the sound barrier in controlled flight when it reached Mach 1.1 during a dive from 13,725 m (45,000 ft).
4-523: The Sagittario 2 was based on the earlier Sagittario , which was itself a development of the S.7 piston-engined training aircraft that went into service with the Italian Air Force in small numbers. A small all-metal aircraft, the Sagittario 2 had its jet engine mounted in the nose, with the exhaust underneath the mid-fuselage. The wing and tail surfaces were highly-swept. The cockpit
8-469: The piston engine was removed and replaced with a Turbomeca Marboré turbojet of 3.7 kN (840 lbf) thrust , and the aircraft renamed the Sagittario. The engine air inlet was in the extreme nose, and the exhaust was routed out the bottom of the fuselage, under the cockpit . The tail wheel undercarriage was retained, so special shielding was added to protect the tail wheel from the engine exhaust. The later Aerfer Sagittario 2 differed in having
12-481: Was an Italian aerodynamic research aircraft based on the manufacturer's S.7 . New swept wings and tail surfaces of wooden construction were fitted to the S.7 fuselage . The wing leading edge was swept at 45 degrees. At first, the S.7's piston engine was retained and the aircraft was known as the Ambrosini S.7 Freccia (Arrow). After several test flights in this configuration (the first on 5 January 1953 ),
16-617: Was moved forward of its position on the Sagittario's predecessors, and equipped with a bubble canopy . A tricycle undercarriage was fitted, with the nose gear retracting under the engine. Development continued as the Ariete . Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 General characteristics Performance Armament Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Ambrosini Sagittario The Ambrosini Sagittario
#477522