Aeritalia G.222

G.222
C-27A Spartan
A USAF C-27A Spartan out of Howard AFB, Panama
Role Military transport aircraft
Manufacturer Fiat / Aeritalia / Alenia
First flight 18 July 1970
Introduction April 1978
Primary users Italian Air Force
Afghan National Army Air Corps
Libyan Air Force
United States Air Force
Variants C-27J Spartan

The Aeritalia G.222 (formerly Fiat Aviazione, now Alenia Aeronautica) is a medium-sized STOL military transport aircraft. It was developed to meet a NATO specification, but Italy was initially the only NATO member to adopt the type. The United States purchased a small number of G.222s, designating them the C-27A Spartan.[1][2] The C-27J Spartan is a more modern development with the engines and systems of the C-130J Super Hercules.

Contents

Development

In 1962, NATO issued a specification for a V/STOL transport aircraft (NATO Basic Military Requirement 4), capable of supporting dispersed V/STOL fighters, with Fiat's design team, led by Giuseppe Gabrelli, producing a design to meet this requirement, designated G.222, powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines and with six to eight Rolls-Royce RB162 lift engines to give VTOL capability.[3] Although none of the submissions resulted in a production contract, the Italian Air Force, felt that the Fiat Aviazione proposal was worthy of development and ordered two prototypes plus a ground-test airframe in 1968. These aircraft were slightly simplified from the original proposal, omitting the lift engines and substituting a pair of General Electric T64s for the Darts.[4] The first prototype flew on 18 July 1970,[5] and the Air Force began evaluating the two prototypes at the end of December 1971. Testing proved successful, and a contract for 44 aircraft was issued to Aeritalia (of which Fiat Aviazione had since become a part),[6] the first aircraft entering service in April 1978.[7]

In 1977, Libya tried to buy 20 G.222s, but the U.S. Government, who had imposed an embargo on the supply of military equipment to Libya, vetoed the sale of T-64 engines. To get around this restriction, Aeritalia developed a version of the G.222 powered by the Rolls-Royce Tyne engine, and with other US supplied equipment replaced by European equivalents to avoid boycotts, the more powerful Tyne engine giving better "hot and high" performance.[8] An order of 20 Tyne powered aircraft for Libya followed.

In 1990, the United States Air Force selected the G.222 as the basis of a "Rapid-Response Intra-Theater Airlifter" (RRITA). Designated as the C-27A Spartan, ten G.222s were purchased and underwent avionics upgrades by Chrysler Aerospace. These aircraft were stationed at Howard AFB, Panama,[9] but were withdrawn from service in 1999.

Design

The G.222 is of typical configuration for aircraft of its type, with high-mounted wings, twin turboprop engines, and a rear loading ramp. The cargo deck is sized to accommodate standard 463L pallets, has a door in the floor for airdropping, a built-in oxygen delivery system for medevac operations, and platforms at the side doors for paratroop deployment.

The G.222 is one of the few cargo planes capable of flying loops and other maneuvers such as flying at about 80-90 kts (with the cargo door in the back open) and short track landing (takes only about 300 m to stop the plane after touching the ground when empty).

Operational history

The G.222 was used in combat operations for the first time by the Ejército Argentino (Argentine Army) in the 1982 Falklands War. The aircraft has been widely engaged in all peace keeping/enforcing missions carried out by Italian armed forces between 1980 and 2005.

On 3 September 1992 one Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) G.222 operating for a United Nations relief mission, was shot down when approaching Sarajevo airfield. The crash site was located 18 miles (29 km) away from the airfield; the NATO rescue mission aborted when the 2 USMC CH-53 helicopters were fired upon with small arms. The cause of the crash was determined to be a surface to air missile, but it was not clear who shot it. Everyone on board - the four Italian crew members and four French passengers - died in the crash.[10][11]

Variants

G.222TCM 
Initial designation, two prototypes for the Italian Air Force
G.222A 
Standard transport version for the Italian Air Force
G.222RM 
(Radiomisura - "radio measurements")- radio/radar calibration aircraft
G.222SAA 
(Sistema Aeronautico Antincendio - "aeronautical fire-fighting system") - fire-fighter equipped for dumping water or fire retardant chemicals. Four built for Italian Air Force
G.222T 
Version powered by the Rolls-Royce Tyne for the Libyan Air Force. Sometimes designated G.222L
G.222VS 
(Versione Speciale - "special version") ECM version - two built for Italian Air Force. Sometimes designated G.222GE.
C-27A Spartan 
Ten G.222s purchased for the United States Air Force.
C-27J Spartan 

Operators

 Afghanistan
 Argentina
 United Arab Emirates
 Italy
 Libya
 Nigeria
 Somalia
 Thailand
 Tunisia
 Venezuela
 United States

Specifications (G.222)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[16]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. ^ Donald (2000). p. 426. 
  2. ^ Frawley (2002). p. 44. 
  3. ^ Air International April 1977, pp. 163-164.
  4. ^ Air International April 1977, pp. 164, 166.
  5. ^ The test pilot was Vittorio Sanseverino
  6. ^ Air International April 1977, pp. 167-168.
  7. ^ Taylor 1988, p.143.
  8. ^ Air International April 1979, pp. 170-173.
  9. ^ Donald and Lake 1996, p. 29.
  10. ^ Sudetic, Chuck (1992-09-04). "U.N. Relief Plane Reported Downed on Bosnia Mission". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/04/world/un-relief-plane-reported-downed-on-bosnia-mission.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  11. ^ Fisk, Robert (1992-09-04). "UN fears aid aircraft was shot down by missile". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/un-fears-aid-aircraft-was-shot-down-by-missile-1549141.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  12. ^ Kington, Tom (2008-02-27). "Italian G-222s Ready for Afghan Use". DefenseNews.com. Army Times Publishing Company. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3394478&c=ASI&s=ALL. Retrieved 2008-04-15. 
  13. ^ Kington, Tom. "First Refurbished G.222 Ready for Afghan Air Force". DefenseNews.com. Army Times Publishing Company, 6 July 2009. Retrieved: 6 July 2009.
  14. ^ "First Refurbished G.222 Ready for Afghan Air Force". AirForces Monthly, 27 September 2010. Retrieved: 27 September 2010.
  15. ^ Alenia G.222 image on Argentine military site
  16. ^ Taylor 1988, pp. 143-144.
Bibliography

External links