Alternate Italian Attackers

[ValAstur 1,294]

After having won the competition for a light attack plane, FIAT had encountered problems with the structural integrity of its two-part fuselage system in the G-91. The first model, built the way it was meant to, in the wind-channel showed the possibility of unusual wear in the connection system of the two fuselage parts, which could have lead to the breaking and the loss of the plane in medium to high-g exposures.

The construction team had to overthink a possibility for a workaround without making the airplane much heavier, more expensive and more difficult to maintain.

Italian minister of defense, Paolo Emilio Taviani, not happy about this matter, sought an other way to reinforce the italian air force with a suitable and comparable aircraft until the problems of the G-91 would have been solved.

He was then offered the A-4 Skyhawk, which was also a light and easy to maintain aircraft.

Three italian pilots of the Aeronautica Militare received the possibility to test the aircraft in the US. Their reports included a satisfactory review of this nimble aircraft. It was described as nice to fly and easy to maintain.

The ministry of defense, not willing to upset FIAT but showing impatience, ordered 72 A4D-2N (renamed A-4C; with an option for eventually more), which got allocated to squadrons of the 6th, 32nd and 51st Stormo in 1962.

An A-4C of the 32nd Stormo, 1962

 

At the end of the 1960s, the A-4Cs got replaced by the more modern A-4Es, with better engine and radar and also the possibility to take more payload on board. Some of the A-4C, which some of the italian pilots called "topolino" (little mouse), got retained for training purposes while most of the fleet got back to the US or sold to other countries.

A-4Es from the 51st Stormo, 1970

 

At the end of the 1960s, FIAT finally was able to start delivering G-91 to the air forces. Italy, though being local customer, was doubtful about replacing the Skyhawks with the Ginas, since all pilots were satisfied with the capabilities and the flight characteristics of the aircraft.

Mario Tanassi, then minister of defense, declared, after having discussed this matter with the Adreotti administration, that the Skyhawks would be replaced by G-91 in a matter of two years with the exception of the 6th Stormo. The replaced Skyhawks got then sold to other countries or scrapped for spare parts. The 6th Stormo was the last wing having the Skyhawk, receiving in 1973 the last upgrade with the A-4F.

A-4Fs of the 6th Stormo

 

The wing did not have the Skyhawk for a long time. In 1978, MoD Attilio Ruffini on behalf of the italian government, got into negotiations with SecDef Harold Brown of the Carter Administration about the purchase of 24 A-6 and 4 EA-6 aircraft of Grumman for replacing the Skyhawks. In Spring 1979, the negotiations were successful and Italy was to receive the new aircraft in early 1980. The days of the Skyhawk in italian service got fewer and fewer. The last Skyhawk was taken out of commission and sold to Brazil in April 1980.

A-6S' of the 6th Stormo, around Summer 1980

EA-6S', Summer 1980

[+daddyairplanes 10,216]

those Italian Scooter skins are awesome!

mildly suprised that at least later in its fictional life the folks in the Aeronautica Militare  didnt do any play on the American nickname. Little mouse is nice, but i was rather expecting Vespa