Fiat G.91Y

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G.91Y
G91Y (19118518688).jpg
A G91Y at Bremgarten in September 1992
Role Ground attack
National originItaly
Manufacturer Fiat Aviazione
Aeritalia
First flight27 December 1966
Introduction1966
Retired1994
Primary user Italian Air Force
Produced1966-1972
Number built2 prototypes + 65 [1]
Developed from Fiat G.91
A Fiat G.91Y at Ramstein Air Base in 1986 G91y-1.jpg
A Fiat G.91Y at Ramstein Air Base in 1986

The Fiat (later Aeritalia) G.91Y is an Italian ground-attack and reconnaissance aircraft which first flew in 1966. Although resembling its predecessor, the Fiat G.91, the aircraft was in fact a complete redesign, a major difference being that it was equipped with a new twin-engine configuration, replacing the original single engine.

Contents

Design and development

The G.91Y was an increased-performance version of the Fiat G.91 funded by the Italian government. Based on the G.91T two-seat trainer variant, the single Bristol Orpheus turbojet engine of this aircraft was replaced by two afterburning General Electric J85 turbojets which increased thrust by 60% over the single-engined variant. [2] Structural modifications to reduce airframe weight increased performance further and an additional fuel tank occupying the space of the G.91T's rear seat provided extra range. Combat manoeuvrability was improved with the addition of automatic leading edge slats. [2]

The avionics equipment of the G.91Y was considerably upgraded with many of the American, British and Canadian systems being licence-manufactured in Italy. [2]

Flight testing of three pre-production aircraft was successful, with one aircraft reaching a maximum speed of Mach 0.98. Airframe buffeting was noted and subsequently rectified in production aircraft by raising the position of the tailplane slightly.

Production

An initial order of 55 aircraft for the Italian Air Force was completed by Fiat in March 1971, by which time the company had changed its name to Aeritalia (from 1969, when Fiat aviazione merged with Aerfer). The order was increased to 75 aircraft with 67 eventually being delivered. In fact, the development of the new G.91Y was quite long, with the first order being for about 20 pre-series examples that followed the two prototypes. The first pre-series 'Yankee' (the nickname of the new aircraft) flew in July 1968.

AMI (Italian Air Force) placed orders for two batches; 35 fighters followed by another 20, later cut to 10. The last one was delivered around mid 1976, making a total of two prototypes, 20 pre-series and 45 series aircraft. No export success followed. These aircraft served with 101° Gruppo/8° Stormo (Cervia-S.Giorgio) from 1970, and later, from 1974, they served with the 13° Gruppo/32° Stormo (Brindisi). [3] Those 'Gruppi' (Italian equivalent of British 'squadrons', usually equipped with 18 aircraft) lasted until the early '90s, as the only ones equipped with the 'Yankee', using them as attack/reconnaissance machines, both over ground and sea, until the AMX replaced them.

Variants

Operators

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Aircraft on display

Specifications (G.91Y)

Orthographically projected diagram of the Fiat G-91Y Aeritalia G.91Y 3-view line drawing.png
Orthographically projected diagram of the Fiat G-91Y

Data fromThe Observer's Book of Aircraft. [4]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

Notes

  1. "None" . Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 [Staff author] 20 June 1968. "Fiat G.91Y" Flight International, p. 931. www.flightglobal.com. Retrieved: 30 December 2011.
  3. Warplanes encyclopedia, Aerospace Publishing, 1984, Italian version print by De Agostini, 1985, p.16
  4. 1 2 3 Green 1972, p. 8.
  5. [Staff author] 29 April 1971. "Italy's aircraft industry" Flight International, p. 578. www.flightglobal.com. Retrieved: 30 December 2011.
  6. Italian Air Force Museum - Fiat G.91Y factsheet Archived 24 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine www.aeronautica.difesa.it. Retrieved: 31 December 2011
  7. Fiat G.91Y image static.wixstatic.com Retrieved 1 April 2023
  8. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography

  • Green, William. The Observer's Book of Aircraft. London. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1972. ISBN   0-7232-1507-3