FMA IAe 30 Namcu (Eagle)

History

In 1947, the Argentine Air Force expanded its strategic influence by purchasing a fleet of 30 Avro Lincoln heavy bombers (some ex-RAF models) and 15 Avro Lancasters. Having this sizeable Air Force by South American standards, it was decided to pair the group with new escort/heavy fighter jets of local design and production.

Italian aeronautical engineer Cesare Pallavicino, who arrived in Argentina after the war in 1946, was hired to lead the new program that culminated in the unveiling of the IAe 30 "Nancu" - a short-lived But the very promising single-seat twin-engined platform ended up only finishing one copy.

The new heavy fighter has the same design as the British de Havilland "Hornet" series, with a central fuselage spanned by engines mounted on the leading edges of the wings (also a reminiscence of the classic de Havilland "Mosquito" series World War II fame). The engine of choice became 2 Rolls-Royce "Merlin" 604 Series V-12 liquid-cooled inline piston types, each rated at 1,800 hp. The overall appearance of the aircraft is streamlined from nose to tail, with the pilot sitting directly behind a short nose cone assembly. The tail uses a vertical tail with a central horizontal plane. The main-wing aircraft were mounted forward of the center of the ship, straight in shape and rounded at the top - each fitted with an engine unit that drove a four-bladed propeller unit.

Dimensions include a length of 38 feet, a wingspan of 49.2 feet and a height of 17 feet. Curb weight is 13,685 lbs and total weight is 16,755 lbs. The weapon was decided to use 6 x 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.

804 automatic cannons (Oerlikon version initially considered) supporting a 550 pound conventional bomb. Each wing will also receive launch tracks that can hold up to five missiles.

A clean profile coupled with a powerful engine allows for a top speed of 460 mph, a cruising speed of 310 mph and a range of 1,680 miles. The service cap is listed as 26,250 feet. Mission duration is up to 5.5 hours.

At the end of 1947, the Argentine government ordered three prototypes, designated "IAe 30". The first example went live in June 1948, and the first flight was recorded a month later on July 17. Subsequent tests resulted in a very capable, high-performance piston-powered aircraft with good flight characteristics. During a test flight from Cordoba to the capital, Buenos Aires, the prototype set a South American speed record of 403.89 mph (650 km/h) - a record that still stands today (2015) constant.

This feat was achieved with the engine running at just 60 percent power - a testament to the potential of this new fighter jet.

The aircraft was eventually expanded along two other lines as well - one as a jet-powered version (powered by 2 Rolls-Royce Derwent turbojets, each with 3,500 lbs of thrust), similar to the already The Gloster Meteor jet fighter Argentine Air Force and two other light bomber/heavy attack aircraft in service with the U.S. are similar in range to the classic de Havilland Mosquito (none of these designs go beyond the established IAe 30 form).

Despite growing confidence in the IAe 30 Nancu product, with the advent of the jet era in the 1950s and increasing financial constraints, the decision was made to turn to Argentina. As more world powers turned to turbojet development, Argentina was forced to follow suit and invest in the IAe 27 "Pulqui" prototype, which became the first turbojet product in Latin America. While the line fell short of expectations, it was improved upon in the eventually abandoned "Pulqui II" project, based on the German wartime Focke-Wulf Ta 183 "Huckebein" jet fighter (described in detail elsewhere on this website) ).

This left IAe 30 in limbo without real investors, so the IAe 30 project was abandoned in 1948. The plane continued to fly for a short time until it was damaged in a hard landing in 1949. The official termination occurred in April 1949, and three prototypes were scrapped.

Although the IAe 30 (and the entire Argentine bomber fleet) performed well (by WWII standards), it was sure to be superseded by jet development soon.

IAe 30 takes its name "Namcu" from a species of eagle native to the Patagonia region that makes up the southern tip of the country of Argentina.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Performance

Performance

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