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Alenia-Aeritalia G.222

1978 ALLIED FORCE COLD WAR FALKLANDS WAR MODERN AIRCRAFT

Alenia-Aeritalia G. 222 History

The Italian Alenia G.222 medium tactical transport aircraft was born out of a 1962 NATO requirement for a Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) tactical transport aircraft to resupply front-line troops at full force should be in the Cold War During the war with the Soviet Union in Europe. The Fiat group subsequently submitted a submission and while the Italian Air Force was not selected for the NATO acquisition, they saw enough potential in the type to order two prototypes. The V/STOL requirement was eventually dropped from the Italian requirement, and the airframe would assume the role of base transport and anti-submarine warfare. Fiat also envisioned a bourgeois variant, but it was later rejected. A prototype was ordered in 1968, and work has been started since then.

Ultimately, the original NATO V/STOL requirements were not met.

The first flight of the G. 222 was recorded on July 18, 1970. Early trials demonstrated a sound design and production quality aircraft ordered from Aeritalia (now acquired by Fiat Aviazone).

44 prototypes were ordered, which were largely similar to the working prototypes, except for the use of pressurization for higher altitudes. Several Italian air carriers will be contracted to assemble the various major components that make up the entire aircraft. These include the Aermacchi and Piaggio for the wings (outer and inner respectively) and the SIAI-Marchetti for the tail.

The standard engine of choice became the General Electric T-64-GE-P4D series of turboprops, each unit powering a three-bladed propeller.

The Italians developed a powerful and capable flying machine with tall shoulder-mounted wings, a raised tail and a tubular fuselage. The high-mounted wing provides excellent ground clearance for the spinning propeller blades, while the raised tail provides clear access to the rear loading ramp for loading and unloading cargo (this keeps the engine running while the cargo is being managed from the ground) . staff). The tubular fuselage allows for useful cargo stowage while also incorporating a flight deck and streamlined aerodynamic features.

The G. 222 concept is largely similar to the proven Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The overall design of the G. 222 takes into account excellent short-field performance, a key requirement of the Italian Air Force, and this is further aided by low-pressure tires and a suspension suitable for rough combat.

The rounded cockpit windshield and short nose arrangement gave the flight crew pilots excellent visibility from the cockpit.

The Italian Air Force's first G.222 made its maiden flight on 23 December 1975, but mass deliveries did not begin until April 1978, replacing the outdated family of Fairchild C-119 freighters in use at the time. Since then, the product has attracted interest from several foreign countries, including Argentina, Nigeria, Somalia, Venezuela, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, which do not sell as much abroad.

In 1977, the United States stopped selling 20 G. 222s to Libya over the use of General Electric T-64 turboprops, forcing the brands to install Rolls-Royce Tyne engines instead. At least 10 G. 222s were adopted by the US military as C-27A "Spartans" and modified by Chrysler Aerospace.

A modernized version of the aircraft became the C-27J in 1996 and incorporated the digital cockpit and engines of the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules. The Spartan was used by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, and after the U.S.-led invasion, some A-models were eventually passed on to the Afghan Air Force.

The modernization of the Italian Air Force G. 222 took place in 1996.

G. 222 has since been marketed in several major variants. G. 222TCM represents the original prototype pair, while G. 222A is the basic transport variant. The G. 222RM was a dedicated radio and radar calibration platform, while the G. 222SAA became an improved fire truck, four of which were produced. The G. 222T stands for the aforementioned G. 222, equipped with a Rolls-Royce Tyne engine for Libya.

The G.222VS (or G.222GE) gave birth to an electronic countermeasures platform, of which only two were delivered. The C-27A Spartans are 10 prototypes supplied and modified by the U.S. military, some of which have been handed over to the rebuilding Afghan Air Force since 2002.

The Argentine G. 222 played a role in the Falklands War with Great Britain. Italian Air Force G.222 in humanitarian role during the UN intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The production time for the G. 222 spanned from 1970 to 1993, with approximately 111 examples completed by then. The G.222 has been retired from the Italian Air Force, the largest operator in the world is Afghanistan, and today it manages at least 14 C-27As. Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Somalia, Thailand, the United States and Venezuela also no longer use the G.222 for military use. However, the U.S. State Department operates four former U.S.

Air Force C-27As on an anti-drug mission at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.

The G.222 exists today primarily as the C-27J "Spartan", which began production in 1997 and is currently scheduled to be delivered to a small number of pending delivery around the world including Australia, Italy, Greece and Mexico Air Force.. The US Air Force manages at least 8 aircraft of this type, while the ANG (Air National Guard) manages 13.

Today's product G. 222/C-27 is under the Alenia Aermacchi S. p. A. brand label.