Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: Argentina
Type: Fighter Aircraft (Interceptor), Bomber Aircraft
Manufacturer: Fábrica Militar de Aviones
FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II Aircraft Overview
The FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II was a jet fighter aircraft developed in Argentina in the 1950s. It was designed by Argentine engineers and manufactured by the state-owned company Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA). The Pulqui II was an advanced aircraft for its time, featuring a swept wing design and a Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine. It was intended to be used as an interceptor and a fighter bomber.
The development of the Pulqui II was a significant achievement for Argentina, which was one of the few countries in the world to have developed its own jet fighter aircraft. However, the project was plagued by various technical difficulties and delays, and the plane never entered service with the Argentine Air Force.
Despite its limited success, the Pulqui II remains an essential milestone in the history of aviation and the development of the aerospace industry in Argentina.
FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 11.68 meters (38 feet 4 inches)
- Wingspan: 10.6 meters (34 feet 9 inches)
- Height: 3.5 meters (11 feet 6 inches)
- Wing Area: 25.1 square meters (270 square feet)
- Empty Weight: 3,736 kilograms (8,236 pounds)
- Gross Weight: 6,875 kilograms (15,157 pounds)
- Engine: Powered by a single Rolls-Royce Nene II turbojet, generating 22.69 kN (5,100 lbf) of thrust
FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II Performance
- Maximum Speed: 1,080 km/h (670 mph, 580 knots)
- Cruise Speed: 954 km/h (593 mph, 515 knots)
- Range: 3,090 kilometers (1,920 miles, 1,670 nautical miles)
- Endurance: Approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes
- Service Ceiling: 15,000 meters (49,000 feet)
- Climb Rate: 25.5 meters per second (5,020 feet per minute)
FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II Armament
- Guns: 4 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 autocannons
