Promavia Jet Squalus

Development

The Jet Squalus was designed by Frati and based on his earlier lightweight jet trainers the F.5 Trento and the F.400 Cobra. It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable landing gear. The Jet Squalus was powered by a Garrett TFE109 turbofan with engine intakes in above the wing root. The prototype, registered I-SQAL, first flew on 30 April 1987. The aircraft was fitted with four underwing hard points for disposable stores to allow weapons training.

Operational history

With the demise of the similar American Fairchild T-46 trainer in 1986 the support for the engine disappeared and it was planned to re-engine with the Williams-Rolls FJ44. The aircraft was exhibited at the Farnborough Air Show in September 1988, but the project folded and Promavia went bankrupt in 1998. An unflown second prototype was to be modified for airline pilot training, and the unfinished third prototype was to be pressurised.

Variants

Data from:Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-87

F1300 NGT

The baseline jet trainer version of the Procaer Cobra lineage.

F1300 AWS-MS/SAR

Maritime surveillance/search and rescue.

F1300 AWS-R

Reconnaissance.

F1300 AWS-W

Armament trainer or Police/Border defence.

F1300 AWS-TT

Target tower.

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot, student)

Length: 9.36 m (30 ft 8½ in)

Wingspan: 9.04 m (29 ft 8 in)

Height: 3.60 m (11 ft 9¾ in)

Wing area: 13.58 m² (146.2 ft²)

Empty weight: 1,300 kg (2,866 lb)

Gross weight: 2,000 kg (4,409 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Garrett TFE109-1 turbofan, 5.92 kN (1,330 lbf) thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 519 km/h (322 mph)

Cruising speed: 482 km/h (299 mph)

Range: 1,850 km (1,150 miles)

Service ceiling: 11,275 m (37,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 12.7 m/s (2,500 ft/min)

Armament

4× underwing hardpoints, 150 kg (330 lb) capacity each