The Aerfer Leone was an Italian supersonic interceptor project. Designed by the designer Sergio Stefanutti it was initially born as an evolution of the Ariete. It was, however cancelled due to various political decisions when the prototype was at 80% of being completed.
After the experience of having an airplane powered by two jet engines like the Ariete, Stefanutti decided to use a more powerful auxiliary engine, in a similar manner that the British Saunders-Roe Sr.53 did.
The new interceptor, fully supersonic (it was intended to reach the speed of 2115 Km/h) was going to represent the last evolution of the prototype series started with the Sagittario. It featured many changes with respect to both Sagittario and Ariete, in fact it had a longer fuselage, a larger fuel tank, a new canopy, 50º angled wings and a single air intake for both engines (unlike the Ariete where each engine had it's own air intake) that could acommodate a radar, in fact this was going to be the first native Italian airplane design which would feature a radar.
The prototype was almost fully completed, but the Italian government decided to invert the funds into buying the newer American land-to-air Hawks missiles and the Lockheed F-104 Starfighters.
Technical data:
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 11,20m
- Wingspan: 6,93m
- Wing Degree: 50º
- Wing Area: 17,6 Square meters
- Empty Weight: 3605Kg
- Maximum take-off weight: 7890Kg.
- Engines: 1 Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus B.Or.12 & 1 De Havilland Spectre
- Thrust/Weight: 3090Kg plus 4550 auxiliary
- Max. Speed: 2115 Km/h
- Service Ceiling: 24500m
- Armament: Two missiles (underwings, probably Sidewinders or Firestreak)
Sources: 1. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerfer_Leone
2. http://xoomer.virgilio.it/aviostoria/A/AERFER/leone.htm
3.http://www.aerei-italiani.net/Home_Page_-_Aerei_Italiani_-_Brevi_pagine_della_Storia_dellAviazione_Italiana.html
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