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).
Although the first flight took place on 27 June 1977, the test flight phase, which included vibration, flutter and spin tests, did not commence until 17 April 1978. 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. On 17 March 1980, the first aircraft entered service with the Spanish Air Force.
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
- 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)
- 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:
1x 30 mm (1.181 in) DEFA cannon. 2x 12.7 mm (0.500 in) M3 machine guns in detachable pods underneath the forward fuselage
Missiles:
2 – Rafael Shafrir (A-36 “Toqui”) air-to-air missiles
Bombs:
Up to 2,220 kg (4,894 lb) disposable stores on 6 underwing pylons
