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The Greek Fiat G.91 story is a short-lived and largely forgotten episode in Hellenic Air Force history. The G.91 R/4 first arrived in Greece in September of 1961. Twenty-five airframes were ordered by the Air Force, however, this delivery was eventually cancelled under American pressure.
History of the G.91
The Fiat G.91, nicknamed “Gina,” was an Italian light strike and reconnaissance jet designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli in response to NATO’s 1953 NBMR-1 requirement for a cheap, rugged, rough-field-capable fighter-bomber that could operate from dispersed, semi-prepared strips. First flown on 9 August 1956, it won the NATO competition in 1958 against French rivals and entered service with the Italian Air Force that year (operationally from 1961) and with the West German Luftwaffe in 1962. Roughly 750–770 aircraft of all variants were built between 1956 and 1977 by Fiat in Italy and under license in Germany; the main operators were Italy, West Germany and Portugal, the last of which used the type extensively in combat during the Portuguese Colonial War in Africa. Variants included the armed reconnaissance G.91R series, the two-seat G.91T trainer and the later twin-engine G.91Y; the aircraft remained in service into the mid-1990s before retirement.
G.91 in Greek hands
In the mid-1950s, after Greece and Turkey joined NATO, the alliance held a competition for a lightweight jet attack and reconnaissance aircraft capable of operating from rough strips. Fiat’s G.91, designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, won the contest, and the United States planned to fund 25 G.91R/4 aircraft each for Greece and Turkey under MAP credits. A Greek evaluation team visited Fiat’s Caselle plant in 1958 and reported favourably, leading to confirmation of the order. The Greek R/4s were to be essentially identical to the German R/3 but armed with four 12.7 mm Colt-Browning machine guns instead of the two 30 mm DEFA cannon.
The first, G.91R/4 to reach Greece, c/n 098 marked 10098, landed at 110 Combat Wing, Larissa, on 7 September 1961, flown by Episminagos Georgios Vagiakakos. A small “G-91 Flight” was formed and Greek pilots and technicians received type training in Italy, yet no full Italian training team ever deployed to Greece and the aircraft never flew operational or training sorties in Hellenic service. Other Greek G.91s were the #90, #100 and #109
Exactly one year later, in September 1962, the order was cancelled under American pressure. The Turkish order was cancelled at the same time. The surplus R/4 airframes were absorbed by the Luftwaffe and later transferred to Portugal, where they saw combat in Africa. Greece instead adopted the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter.
Specifications
Details
Length: 10.3 m
Wingspan: 8.56 m
Height: 4.0 m
Wing area: 16.4 m²
Empty weight: 3,100 kg
Maximum weight: 5,500 kg
Engine: Bristol Siddeley Orpheus
Thrust: 5,000 lb
Maximum speed: 1,075 km/h
Range: 1,150 km
Service ceiling: 43,000 ft
Rate of climb: 6,000 ft/min
Wing loading: 331 kg/m²
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0.42
Armament
Details
Extra Photos and a Video
Sources
Details
- Πτήση -122-03-1995
- Πτήση -118-11-1994-1
- The Fiat G.91 NUMBER 119 TWO SHILLINGS
- https://archive.org/details/fiat-g-91/Fiat%20G-91/mode/2up
- FIAT G.91 “Gina” – Moris Georgios
- "Italia - Consegnato alla Grecia il Turbogetto g 91 R/4" - Archivio storico Istituto Luce
- Γαλανόλευκα Φτερά – Blue White Wings
- Fiat G.91 : un avion pour l' OTAN ?
