Aerfer Ariete

Aerfer Ariete
Role	Prototype fighter
Manufacturer	Aerfer
Designer	Sergio Stefanutti
First flight	27 March 1958
Primary user	Italian Air Force
Number built	2 (1 completed)
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]

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 9.60 m (31 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
• Height: 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 14.5 m² (156 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,290 lb)
• Loaded weight: 3,535 kg (7,793 lb)
• Powerplant:
  • 1 × Rolls-Royce Derwent 9 turbojet, 16.2 kN (3,640 lbf)
  • 1 × Rolls-Royce Soar (RSr 2) turbojet, 8.025 kN (1,804 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,080 km/h (583 knots, 675 mph)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,360 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2,667 m/min (8,747 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 244 kg/m² (48 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight (jet): 1:2

Armament

• 2 × 30 mm HDD-825 cannons

See also

Related development

• Ambrosini S.7
• Ambrosini Sagittario
• Aerfer Sagittario 2
• Aerfer Leone

References

1. Official website Aeronautica Militare
2. Swanborough 1971, p. 108.

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