The Ambrosini Sagittario 1 was an Italian aerodynamic research aircraft based on the manufacturer’s S.7.
New swept wings and tail surfaces of wooden construction were fitted to the S.7 fuselage.
The wing leading edge was swept at 45 degrees.
At first, the S.7’s piston engine was retained and the aircraft was known as the Ambrosini S.7 Freccia.
After several test flights in this configuration, the piston engine was removed and replaced with a Turbomeca Marboré turbojet of 3.7 kN (840 lbf) thrust, and the aircraft renamed the Sagittario.
The engine air inlet was in the extreme nose, and the exhaust was routed out the bottom of the fuselage, under the cockpit.
The tail wheel undercarriage was retained, so special shielding was added to protect the tail wheel from the engine exhaust.
Sagittario 2
A small all-metal aircraft, the Sagittario 2 had its jet engine mounted in the nose, with the exhaust underneath the mid fuselage.
The wing and tail surfaces were highly-swept.
The cockpit was moved forward of its position on the Sagittario’s predecessors, and equipped with a bubble canopy.
A tricycle undercarriage was fitted, with the nose gear retracting under the engine.
Aerfer Ariete
The Ariete 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.
Variants
Ambrosini S.7
Racing aircraft
Ambrosini Sagittario
Aerodynamic research aircraft
Aerfer Sagittario II
Prototype all metal single seat lightweight fighter aircraft
Aerfer Ariete
Prototype fighter aircraft
Specifications
Sagittarrio II
Crew
1
Length
9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Wingspan
7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
Height
2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
Wing area
14.73 m2 (158.6 sq ft)
Aspect ratio
3.82
Airfoil
Root
Laminar symmetric 8.5% thick,
Tip
Laminar symmetric 9.30% thick
Empty weight
2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
Gross weight
3,293 kg (7,260 lb)
Fuel capacity
1,200 l (320 US gal; 260 imp gal) in 4 fuselage tanks
