indigenous language arrow jet fighter aircraft designed late 1940s argentina government built design elements wartime fighter project envisioned successor postwar service argentina development comparatively problematic lengthy prototypes lost fatal crashes despite prototypes successfully tested combat political economic technical challenges faced project meant unable reach potential argentine government ultimately chose purchase united_states lieu continuing development indigenous fighter production status background late 1940s argentina benefited recruitment prominent german scientists engineers fleeing europe following defeat nazis seeking sanctuary latin_america group refugees included french designer collaborator homeland headed experimental fighter program argentine engineers jet aircraft designed built latin_america flight tests revealed mediocre performance resulting cancellation program spanish leadership efforts build successful indigenous jet fighter attempted modify earlier aircraft apparent little potential development initiated new design utilizing powerful lbf rolls engine early institute completed scale model called design featured wings swept angle flow section revised model built later year wings relocated shoulder mounted position changed tail configuration kurt tank like german designer technical director similarly hired work jet fighter project argentina tank emigrated latin_america restart career ventures entering country passport identifying found warm welcome maintain secret identity employees instrumental evolution argentina military aircraft factory tank engineer test pilot designed fighter design team responsible project declared winner emergency fighter competition swept wing jet powered designed engineer designer reached stage wind tunnel studies end hostilities design development appointment project director new indigenous fighter program tank adapted basic airframe engine substantially resulting new design bore passing resemblance larger heavier powerful planned use required new redesigned fuselage larger cross section primarily design similarity tank redesign director institute merged parallel projects fuselage tank design adapted use shoulder mounted negative wings swept greater sweep angle given small comparable engine placement engine situated aft cockpit near center gravity engine maintenance service facilitated removal tail section airframe featured graceful swept shaped cockpit topped clear bubble type canopy dorsal fuselage armor provided cockpit incorporated fuel capacity initially imp gal internally imp gal wings armament planned include cannon pair mounted near ventral position fuselage slightly set jet intake testing evaluation prove design built contract constructed testing including flights tank tests revealed significant problems lateral stability resulting modifications tail address problem construction began prototype lack modern machinery metal relied heavily prototypes labor intensive procedure president envisioned benefit setting aviation factory argentina introduce production standards comparable world class manufacturing facilities tank realized production tools feasible stage relied instead essentially hand built examples airframe reserved static testing subsequently destroyed tests flying prototypes built completed maiden flight june year captain controls second flight test pilot encountered severe lateral stability problems speeds mph returned airfield precaution landing high speed aircraft bounced sufficient force cause right main fail repairs aircraft order tricky landing characteristics increased length served alter angle aircraft shock adjusted greater throw considered modifications improved takeoff landing low speed characteristics aerodynamic problems persisted stemming tip stall stalled resulting unpredictable rolling moment leading change wing leading edge near rudder modified attempt resolve lateral instability issues addition canopy reinforced external frames small installed engine exhaust tank capable development test pilot took test program investigate aircraft characteristics airframe changes took months complete modified able undertake proving flight october ensuing high altitude test successive occasions stalled inadvertently tank sufficient height recovery adding ballast nose aircraft cured problem february tank publicly demonstrated buenos_aires audience included government officials legislators foreign diplomatic corps military large crowd spectators flew demonstration successful completion proving test flights requested pre production order aircraft air force established team service pilots test fly new aircraft series acceptance flights flight commander revealed severe vibration kilometres hour mph tank declared sole prototype pending investigation problem appears overlooked prototype continued fly eve 28th flight captain assigned test program advised stress aircraft source vibrations experienced previous flight morning discovered determined better team leader recent performance ignored precautions began practicing maneuvers near afternoon flight consequently high force turn structural failure occurred wing separating fuselage struggling martin seat ejected low altitude aircraft inverted parachute fully deploy killed defect traced faulty related joint pin wing fuselage manufacturing process necessitated modern pressing equipment argentina construction prototype began immediately loss design team initiated number changes design flaws found flying prototype including incorporating larger rudder improve lateral stability increasing size exhaust adding unique air brake rotated sides fuselage near tail reinforcement canopy fuel carried internally extend range kilometres new prototype completed flight september piloted flight testing resumed aircraft prepared demonstration president october slated flight reservations flight characteristics extremes flight envelope worst experienced test pilot days prior exhibition practicing display routine stalled low level killed resulting crash destroyed prototype tank constructed fourth prototype attempt resolve design deep stall problems high angles attack added stall fences wing rear fuselage included cockpit additional fuel capacity prototype fitted definitive mark cannon armament piloted fourth maiden flight august began armament testing weather version adding radar considered tentative plans acquisition aircraft production version dedicated featuring engine fitted giving anticipated maximum speed number foreign buyers equally expressed interest including netherlands egypt lack clear commitment production series hampered prospects export sales nations eventually settling readily available fighter aircraft political project linked fortunes regime charged bringing aviation projects completion constant political interference contributed delays disarray aviation programs severe economic problems led government build cars trucks including tank team primarily focused completing design multi purpose aircraft transport trainer reconnaissance roles eventually entered production spanish national manufacturing research devastating political decision divert entire manufacturing program seemingly overnight automotive products agricultural equipment essentially closing aviation divisions competing projects automotive manufacture served drain resources time money personnel project argentina finances extremely strained following economic crisis setback project came january tank contract expired requested twice money continue president instead canceled contract outright despite years development trials project encountering problems status remained unclear final decision abandon project reached iconic stature era operational history september sole remaining prototype pressed action coup état led general exact details participation unknown rebel forces commanded captured conquest fighter bombers stationed military aviation school enlisted struggle flying combat missions later appeared victory parade celebrating triumph coup loyalist forces military came power project thrown disarray new government released leading air force staff similarly tank team forced leave argentina tank going india worked later developed fighter air force effort gain political support planned record flight buenos_aires demonstrate combat potential fly air force practice range buenos_aires area return internal fuel oxygen equipment available long flight repairs successfully completed flight including demonstration average cruise speed oxygen system failed return leg semi conscious pilot managed perform emergency landing high speed heavy landing resulting stress broke landing gear end runway aircraft damaged repair cancellation shortly record flight reviewed decision acquire fighter force considered based wing fuselage components hand aircraft constructed relatively quickly remainder order years complete time attrition original obtained late 1940s continued plans alternative replacement initially centered acquisition rejected unable provide necessary foreign exchange longer viable option seriously considered having enter series production new prototype ordered despite united_states having offered combat proven sabre fighters available immediately fifth prototype designated constructed visually identical fourth prototype retaining original clear canopy entered flight testing flight september flying continual evolution resulted design team solving inherent instability high angles attack increasing fuel capacity use wet wing provide sufficient range fighter considered obsolete addition politically association consequently decided cancel project development instead acquiring united_states bargain basement price mutual defense assistance act completing test fights new role research platform prototype retired placed storage bringing project culmination remaining factory incomplete destroyed soon legacy despite having achieved production status considered significant aviation achievement swept wing jet fighter entirely developed built latin_america allowed argentina lay claim eighth nation world develop technology long term benefit traced project creation argentina fledgling aviation industry lockheed martin aircraft argentina survivors decades outdoor display buenos_aires today final prototype sole surviving example project preserved air base displayed original colors markings alongside symbols lost dreams specifications 3rd 4th prototypes data pioneers prototypes general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight gross weight powerplant rolls lbf thrust performance maximum speed mph cruising speed mph range nmi endurance hours minutes service ceiling rate climb min armament guns license built cannon
FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II