FMA IAe 27 Pulqui (Arrow)

Turbojet-Powered Interceptor Prototype Aircraft

Argentina | 1947

"The FMA IAe 27 Pulqui marked the first jet-powered aircraft to emerge from Argentina and South America - it was doomed by poor performance."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/22/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Like other nations following World War 2 (1939-1945), Argentina began to look to the near-future and invest in turbojet-powered aircraft. This brought together a team of experts mainly from Europe, led by Frenchman Emile Dewoitine, to design and develop what would become Argentina's (and South America's) first turbojet-powered platform - the FMA IAe 27 "Pulqui". Despite the European involvement, the design was not a success and only a single prototype was ever built and flown. Manufacture was through the Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) label.

The aircraft was designed as an interceptor-minded, cannon-armed aircraft of single-seat, single-engine arrangement. The approach would include all-modern qualities such as a wholly-retractable tricycle undercarriage and all-metal skin construction. Additionally, there would be a capability for rough-field operations as well as an inherent Short Take-Off (STO) capability. The powerplant of choice became the British Rolls-Royce Derwent V turbojet of 3,600 pounds thrust and this was to a rounded, streamlined fuselage containing a nose-mounted intake, forward-set cockpit (with framed canopy) , and a conventional tail unit - one single vertical fin with low-mounted horizontal planes. The wings were not swept back, however, instead left as straight appendages mounted low against the fuselage sides ahead of midships. Initially these wings featured rounded tips but the finalized form carried squared-off tips. Proposed armament was 4 x 20mm autocannons with a future ability for the wings to mount conventional drop ordnance or rocket-launching rails.

The prototype Pulqui was first flown on August 9th, 1947 but it was soon realized that the design was naturally restricted by inferior performance - especially considering its intended role of interceptor where speed was the primary quality. Range was equally limited as the fuel tanks were forced to be installed into the wing members - the fuselage internal volume being dominated by the engine installation and its applicable ductwork running around the cockpit to the nose intake. Development eventually stalled and was ultimately abandoned as work began on a more promising venture - the FMA IAe 33 "Pulqui II", this design largely based on the World War 2-era Focke-Wulf Ta 183 jet-powered fighter by German engineer Kurt Tank. Tank worked in Argentina prior to his arrival in India to assist in their indigenous jet fighter program.

The FMA IAe 27 prototype, retired from active flight testing in 1951, was saved from the scrap heap and reborn as a preserved showpiece at the National Aeronautics Museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The IAe 27 was given an overall length of 31.8 feet, a wingspan of 37 feet and a height of 11 feet. Its performance included a maximum speed of 445 miles per hour, a range out to 560 miles, and a service ceiling nearing 50,855 feet.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the FMA IAe 27 Pulqui (Arrow) Turbojet-Powered Interceptor Prototype Aircraft.

1 x Rolls-Royce Derwent V turbojet engine developing 3,600 pounds of thrust.
Propulsion

447 mph
720 kph | 389 kts
Max Speed

50,853 ft
15,500 m | 10 miles
Service Ceiling

559 miles
900 km | 486 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the FMA IAe 27 Pulqui (Arrow) Turbojet-Powered Interceptor Prototype Aircraft.

1
(MANNED)
Crew

31.8 ft
9.70 m
O/A Length

36.9 ft
(11.25 m)
O/A Width

11.2 ft
(3.40 m)
O/A Height

5,203 lb
(2,360 kg)
Empty Weight

7,937 lb
(3,600 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the FMA IAe 27 Pulqui (Arrow) Turbojet-Powered Interceptor Prototype Aircraft .

PROPOSED:
4 x 20mm cannons

Conventional drop bombs and aerial rockets would have figured into production-quality aircraft.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the FMA IAe 27 Pulqui (Arrow) family line.

IAe 27 "Pulqui" - Base Series Designation; sole example completed and test-flown.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the FMA IAe 27 Pulqui (Arrow). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) - Argentina

[ Argentina ]

1 / 1

Image from the Public Domain.

Going Further...
The FMA IAe 27 Pulqui (Arrow) Turbojet-Powered Interceptor Prototype Aircraft appears in the following collections:

HOME

AVIATION INDEX

AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)