CASA C-101

The CASA C-101 Aviojet is a low-wing single engine jet-powered advanced trainer and light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Spanish aircraft company Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA).

"T-36 Halcon" redirects here. For other uses, see T36 (disambiguation).

C-101 Aviojet
Spanish Air Force C-101
Role Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft
Manufacturer CASA
First flight 27 June 1977[1]
Introduction 17 March 1980[1]
Status Operational
Primary users Spanish Air Force
Chilean Air Force
Honduran Air Force
Royal Jordanian Air Force
Number built 166

The C-101 was developed in response to a Spanish Air Force requirement, which needed a replacement for the already outdated Hispano Saeta. During 1975, CASA commenced work on what would become the C-101. In addition to its own design team, technical assistance was provided by Germany's Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and the United States' Northrop. During June 1977, the first of four prototypes performed the type's maiden flight. The design was somewhat reminiscent of other jet trainers of the era, such as the BAE Hawk and the Alpha Jet, but was less aerodynamically sophisticated, being equipped with an unswept wing. Performance of the C-101 during flight testing was reported in excess of predictions.

On 17 March 1980, the first examples were introduced to operational service with the Spanish Air Force, which would be the principal customer for the C-101. The initial model possessed only a limited weapons capability, this attack capability was expanded upon later-built aircraft.[2] Several models were exported to overseas operators; the C-101 has been adopted by the Chilean Air Force, Honduran Air Force and the Royal Jordanian Air Force. A final improved model, designated C-101DD, was demonstrated but did not find customers and thus it did not enter serial production. In addition to its use as a trainer aircraft, it has been used to perform aerobatics; in the latter context, it has been flown by the Patrulla Aguila aerobatics team. As of 2019, the C-101 remains in service in the Spanish Air Force and several other countries.

Early on the 2010s there were talks about the replacement of the C-101. Finally, in 2020 it was decided that the C-101 would be replaced by the Pilatus PC-21[3] (24) and the Airbus Future Jet Trainer[4] [5](50 - 55).[6]

Design and development
Patrulla Águila acrobatic team flying the C-101
A C-101 Aviojet aircraft of the Honduran Air Force
A C-101 Aviojet aircraft of the Jordanian Air Force
CASA C-101 prototype.
Spanish CASA C-101

The C-101 was designed in response to a Spanish Air Force requirement issued in 1975, calling for a new jet trainer to replace its aging fleet of Hispano HA-200s and Ha.220s. Akin to the majority of contemporary European jet trainers, it was also to have a limited attack capability. During 1972, Hispano had been absorbed by Spanish aircraft company Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA), who took an interest in the trainer requirement.[7] During October 1975, CASA was awarded a development contract based upon their submission, requiring a pair of static airframes and four flight-capable prototypes to be built for testing purposes at a cost of 1,297 million pesetas ($22 million).[8]

To develop the aircraft, CASA sought technical assistance from overseas. Both the German manufacturing conglomerate Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and American defense company Northrop opted to participate in the venture; specifically, engineers at MBB worked on the design of the rear fuselage and tail section while Northrop's team were responsible for the design of the aircraft's wings and engine inlets.[9][7] Out of these efforts, a relatively conventional design was developed; according to aviation author John C. Fredriksen, the principles of simplicity and economy were highly emphasised by the design, shunning high performance features.[7]

In terms of its basic configuration, the C-101 is a low-mounted monoplane, the wings were unswept. The cockpit, which was relatively spacious amongst its peers, accommodated a crew of two in a tandem seating; the seats were staggered to provide the instructor in the rear position with greater visibility.[7] The fuselage provided considerable internal space, permitting the installation of various additional aviation or supplemental systems as to suit future requirements or other secondary roles.[7] Foreseen secondary roles included ground attack, armed escort, photographic reconnaissance, and as an electronic countermeasures (ECM) platform.[8][10]

The only surprising feature of the aircraft was the presence of a large internal weapons bay located beneath the rear cockpit; this allowed for a wider variety of armament to be carried than the underwing hard points could accommodate; alternatively, this bay enabled the carriage of other equipment, including reconnaissance payloads. In addition to the weapons bay, both armaments and stores could be fitted upon six underwing hard points.[7] The design was produced in a modular fashion, which eases both manufacture and maintenance activities. It was provisioned with a considerable endurance range as a result of the initial requirement having called for an self-deployment capability to the Canary Islands from the Spanish mainland.

The powerplant selected for the aircraft was the Honeywell TFE731-5-1J turbofan engine.[7] This unit was actually a commercial engine that had been re-developed for military use. Even from an early stage of development, the TFE731 was viewed as a front runner for the aircraft.[8] According to Fredriksen, it provided relatively favourable performance and a high level of fuel economy amongst its peers.[7] Overall, the aircraft provided mainly favourable characteristics while remaining an affordable trainer in comparison to international competition.[7]

Operational history

Although the first flight took place on 27 June 1977,[1][11] the test flight phase, which included vibration, flutter and spin tests, did not commenced until 17 April 1978.[12] The prototype was flown in the Farnborough International Airshow during late July 1978. Performance was reportedly found to be better than anticipated by the designers. An initial order for 88 aircraft was placed by the Spanish Air Force; built as a dedicated trainer version, designated as C-101EB-01 by CASA and E.25 Mirlo ("Blackbird") by the air force.[11] On 17 March 1980, the first aircraft entered service with the Spanish Air Force.[1]

Shortly after this dedicated trainer model was introduced, the aircraft was followed in production by a combination attack/trainer variant. Equipped with an uprated engine, this variant was designated C-101BB-02.[11] It was bought by numerous export customers, including Honduras, which bought four, and Chile, which bought four aircraft and parts for another eight to be assembled locally by ENAER. The Chilean BB-02s are designated T-36 Halcón.[13][14]

In 1983, CASA flew a dedicated attack version, the C-101CC-02, which was again ordered by Chile.[11] This time, only the prototype was built in Spain, with the remaining 22 machines built by ENAER. This variant featured yet another engine upgrade and increased fuel capacity; it has been designated A-36 Halcón ("Falcon").[11][15]

Sixteen similar aircraft, the C-101CC-04 were sold to Jordan.[11] During 2018, the last of these aircraft were phased out by the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

The final version of the C-101 to be developed, designated C-101DD, was first demonstrated by CASA during 1985.[7] This model featured vastly improved avionics as well as the capability to carry the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile; however, it ultimately failed to attract any orders.

Between 1990 and 1992, all Spanish Air Force C-101s received an extensive upgrade package which mainly focused on the aircraft's navigation and armament systems.[11]

Operators
 Chile
  • Chilean Air Force (35 -12 C-101BB and 23 C-101CC). Around 20 C-101CC still in service as A-36.
 Honduras
 Jordan
 Spain

Specifications (CASA C-101CC)

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1989–90[16]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 12.5 m (41 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.6 m (34 ft 9 in)
  • Height: 4.25 m (13 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 20 m2 (220 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.6
  • Airfoil: Norcasa 15 (15%)[17]
  • Powerplant: 1 × Honeywell TFE731-5-1J turbofan engine, 19.13 kN (4,300 lbf) thrust
  • Military Power Reserve (MPR): 20.91 kN (4,700 lbf)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 769 km/h (478 mph, 415 kn) at 4,500 kg (9,921 lb) at sea level
806 km/h (501 mph; 435 kn) at 6,100 m (20,013 ft)
834 km/h (518 mph; 450 kn) at 4,575 m (15,010 ft) at MPR
  • Cruise speed: 656 km/h (408 mph, 354 kn) / M0.6 at 9,145 m (30,003 ft)
  • Unstick speed: 213 km/h (132 mph; 115 kn)
  • Touchdown speed: 176 km/h (109 mph; 95 kn)
  • Stall speed: 183 km/h (114 mph, 99 kn) flaps up
164 km/h (102 mph; 89 kn) flaps down
  • Never exceed speed: 834 km/h (518 mph, 450 kn) / M0.8 at 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)
  • Combat range: 519 km (322 mi, 280 nmi) typical lo-lo-lo interdiction, with 4x 250 kg (551 lb) bombs and 1x 30 mm (1.181 in) cannon
Typical CAS lo-lo-lo 370 km (230 mi) with 4x rocket launchers and 1x 30 mm (1.181 in) cannon
Typical CAS lo-lo-lo 315 km (196 mi) with 4x rocket launchers plus 2x 125 kg (276 lb) bombs and 1x 30 mm (1.181 in) cannon
Typical CAS lo-lo-lo 602 km (374 mi) with 2x AGM-65 Maverick and 1x 30 mm (1.181 in) cannon
Typical ECM 611 km (380 mi)
Typical Phot/recce 964 km (599 mi)
  • Ferry range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi) with 30 minutes reserve
  • Endurance: typical armed patrol – 3 hours 30 minutes
typical training mission 1 hour 10 minutes
maximum endurance 7 hours
  • Service ceiling: 12,800 m (42,000 ft)
  • g limits: +7.5 -3.9 at 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)
+5.5 -1 at 6,300 kg (13,889 lb)
  • Rate of climb: 24.9 m/s (4,900 ft/min) (normal)
101.67 m (334 ft) (MPR)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.322
  • Take-off run: 560 m (1,837 ft)
  • Landing run from 15 m (49 ft): 800 m (2,625 ft)

Armament

  • Guns:
or
  • 2x 12.7 mm (0.500 in) M3 machine guns in detachable pods underneath the forward fuselage
  • Missiles:
  • Bombs:
  • Up to 2,220 kg (4,894 lb) disposable stores on 6 underwing pylons

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Citations
  1. Taylor 1982, p. 180.
  2. Jackson 2011, p. 175.
  3. "Spanish Air Force Procures 24 Pilatus PC-21 Trainer Aircraft". DEFPOST. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. "Airbus Looks to Create New Jet Trainer for Spanish Air Force". Aviation Today. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. "Airbus pitches new trainer jet for Spain, but with eyes for Europe". DefenseNews. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  6. "Airbus propone un avion entrenador español capaz de portar armamento". Infodefensa.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. Fredriksen 2001, p. 71.
  8. "Casa C-101 go-ahead." Flight International, 16 October 1975. p. 560.
  9. Frawley 2002, p. 58.
  10. "Garrett's TFE731 turbofan." Flight International, 4 September 1976.
  11. Hewson 2001, p. 36.
  12. Thomas 2008, pp. 130–132.
  13. Tobar, Alfonso and Graham Warwick. "Looking forward." Flight International, 14 April 1999.
  14. Hoyle, Craig. "PICTURES: Chile receives first four Super Tucanos." Flight International, 5 January 2010.
  15. "Military Aircraft Directory: CASA." Flight International, 29 July 1998.
  16. Taylor 1989, pp. 218–219.
  17. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography
  • Frawley, Gerard (2002). The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002–2003. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
  • Fredriksen, John C. International Warbirds: An Illustrated Guide to World Military Aircraft, 1914-2000. ABC-CLIO, 2001. ISBN 1-57607-364-5.
  • Hewson, Robert. "The Vital Guide to Military Aircraft." Airlife, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-065-3.
  • Jackson, Robert (2011). Aircraft from 1914 to the present day. ISBN 978-1-907446-02-3.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1982). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
  • Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1989). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1989–90 (80th ed.). London: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710608963.
  • Thomas, Cynda (2008). Hell of A Ride, 2008. IUniverse. ISBN 978-0-5955-2878-3.
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