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Aviation History
1974
1974 - 0294.PDF
264 FLIGHT International, 28 February 1974 ALPHA JET The co-operative trainer/attack aircraft By MARK LAMBERT, International Editor I T HAS ALWAYS been possible to use last year's fighter as this year's trainer. It seems now that tactics and tech nology have made it possible to produce a new aircraft which effectively combines training and close air support without undue penalties. So it is with Dassault-Breguet and Dornier's Alpha Jet. For the German air force, Alpha Jet will be a G.91R/3 replacement with a distinct step up in performance. For France, Alpha Jet will provide a much needed replace ment for T-33 and Mystere IVA in the advanced flying training and operational conversion sectors of the fighter- pilot training course. In the export market, for which it is most certainly also intended, Alpha Jet competes with Sweden's Saab 105G, a trainer developed with a CAS bias, and Britain's Hawker Siddeley Hawk, a Gnat trainer replacement with CAS pro pensities. Tables on this page and page 265 indicate how closely the three types resemble each other, how far they will improve, in the 1970s, on the older armed trainers and how well the Alpha Jet will replace the Italian G.91 R/3 in German service. Alpha Jet had its origins during the mid-1960s, when it became evident both in Germany and France that a new trainer was becoming necessary. During 1967 and 1968 Dornier mooted the P.375 project for a "modular" trainer capable of reproducing a variety of flying characteristics and, by fitting different wings to a basic fuselage, of pro viding subsonic or supersonic performance. During 1968, the French air force framed a tentative trainer require ment and the two countries then discussed the possibility of a joint development. By the end of the year, Germany had issued a first outline requirement for a supersonic trainer, and industry responded by forming two design teams: MBB with Snias and Dornier with Breguet. From this point until summer 1970, the emphasis of leadership shifted gradually from Germany to France, the two national operational require ments hardened and the engine was chosen. Dornier- Breguet's TA-501 Alpha Jet was in competition with the MBB/Snias E650 Eurotrainer project and the German-onlv VFW T291. By July 1969, the Governments had agreed to co-operate, the competing designs were narrowed to two and France had issued a preliminary military specification. Dornier had by now examined seven different configurations and chosen No 2, which is still the basic Alpha Jet layout, as the only one showing good behaviour in all conditions, including spin, deep stall, pitch-up, trim change, landing and high speed. Free-model spinning tests had been carried out in a wind tunnel. During these months the engine was chosen. Two con tenders had been the 29,0001b-thrust GE J85 and the Snecma/Turbomeca Larzac 02 of lower thrust. The Ger man CAS mission called for high thrust and the uprated Larzac 04, giving the same thrust as the GE engine, tipped the scales in favour of a European powerplant. In July 1970 the two air forces issued their joint defini tive military characteristics for the new trainer and the COMPETING/LIGHT ATTACK/TRAINING AIRCRAFT Tandem/ Weapon load side by Max T/O weight side empty weight Guns Max speed/ altitude/ limiting Wing area Mach No. Rate of climb Status Alpha Jet Hawker Siddeley HS.1182 Hawk Saab 105G Aermacchi* MB.326G BAC1S7 Strikemaster 2XTurbomeca Larzac 04 2,960lb; 13 4kN 1 xR-R/Turbomeca Adour 151 5,340lb; 24-2kN 2XGE J85-GE-17B 2,850lb;15-5kN 1XR-R Viper 535 3,4101b; 15-5kN 1xR-R Viper 535 3,4101b; 15-5kN T T S T S 4,850lb 15,4001b 6,9441b 5,0001b 15,6101b 7,0001b 5,1801b 14,3301b 6,8341b 4,0001b 11,5001b 5,6401b 3,0001b 11,5001b 6,1951b 2,200kg 7,000kg 3,150kg 2,270kg 7,080kg 3,175kg 2,350kg 6,500kg 3,100kg 1,814kg 5,216kg 2,558kg 1,360kg 5,216kg 2,810kg 1 X30mm 2x0 5in ext 1 x 30 m m ext 2x30mm ext 2 x 30mm ext 2x7-62mm int 188 4 sq ft 180 sq ft 175 sq ft 208 sq ft 213 sqft 535kt S.I. 0-85 516kt 36,000ft 0 9 518kt S.I. 0 86 468kt 0-82 425kt S.I. 0-75 8min to 36,000ft 3-2min to 5,000m 11,155ft/min 3min 10sec to 10,000ft 5,250ft/min Flew October 1973; deliveries early 1977; 433 ordered by France, Germany & Belgium Flies mid-1974, deliveries late 1976; RAF orders for 175; programme cost "about £90 million" 105G flew 1972; earlier ver sions in service In production in Italy, Brazil and South Africa 115 built; in production; unit cost "about £350,000" • Also MB.326K light strike aircraft with no training capability (single-seat); proposed uprated MB.326L trainer not yet built.
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