I went to the Museo del Aire in Madrid and saw this fascinating jet in about 4 examples both as exhibits and door-guards and I have to say that they are really interesting in history and design.
The Hispano Ha-200 was one of Messerschmitt's last designs, and his influence on the design was welcome in Gen. Franco's Fascist Spain. The 200 was also the first jet ever built in Spain (and the best one in the 60's compared to the other fighters, like the Ha-1112 Buchon).
More from the good old Wikipedia:
The HA-200 Saeta (Arrow) was the first Spanish turbojet aircraft. It was designed by Willy Messerschmitt as the earlier piston-powered trainer HA-100 Triana. The HA-200 was a low-winged monoplane of all metal construction, with a tricycle undercarriage. It was powered by two Turboméca Marboré mounted side by-side in the forward fuselage and fed from an intake in the nose, exhausting from nozzles just aft of the wing trailing edge. The crew of two was accommodated in tandem in a pressurized cockpit, the first to be Spanish built and designed.[1]
The prototype first flew on 12 August 1955,[2] and the first production aircraft flew in October 1962. The HA-200A aircraft were delivered to the Spanish Air Force with the designation E.14. A single seat version (the HA-220) for the ground-attack role was developed and delivered to the Spanish Air Force with the designation C.10, first flying on 25 April 1970,[3] remaining in service until the end of 1981.[4]
The aircraft was built in Egypt under license as the Helwan HA-200B Al-Kahira by the Helwan Air Works.
COMBAT HISTORY (Breif-ish)
In 1970, the HA-200 replaced the aging CASA-built Heinkel He-111s in Esc 462 on the Canary Islands. From there they flew on detachments to Spanish Sahara. Late in 1974, during the Polisario uprisings, the planes flew their first combat missions. Polisario guerillas ambushed a police patrol from higher ground and caves, and held them pinned from their protected positions. Several T-6Ds with machine guns and a couple of UH-1 helicopters strafed the Polisario positions but with little effect. Very soon the first two Saetas arrived with 2.75" FFARs. Diving at a 45 degree angle toward the cave entrances, the stability of the HA-200 design proved itself without a doubt, as the rockets were observed flying straight into the caves. Following the initial rocket attacks, ground troops attempted to take the caves, but were pushed back.
The next morning, the Saetas arrived once more, in the company of more T-6s and UH-1 troop carriers. The attack pattern from the previous day proved itself once more, with a FAC ordering fire where it would be most useful. Rocket after rocket entered the caves through the 5-10 foot entrances, with very few missing their target. It seems one of the rockets set off some mortar rounds, as there were several very large explosions. Soon, ground troops once again attempted to take the caves, but this time there was hardly any resistance. Most of the guerillas had been killed by the accurate rocket fire delivered by the Saetas.
[edit]Variants
HA-200R
Two prototype aircraft
HA-200A
Initial production version with, 30 built.
HA-200B
Ten pre-production aircraft with Turboméca Marboré IIA engines for delivery to Egypt, another 90 built under licence in Egypt.
HA-200D
Improved version for the Spanish Air Force with updated systems, 55 built.
HA-200E Super Saeta
HA-200D re-engined with Marbore VI engines, updated avionics and provision for air-to-ground rockets, 40 conversions.
HA-220
Ground attack version of the HA-200E for Spanish Air Force, 25 built.[3]
Egypt
Egyptian Air Force
Spain
Spanish Air Force
Specifications (HA-200E)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66 [5]
General characteristics
Crew: Two
Length: 8.93 m (29 ft 3½ in)
Wingspan: 11.02[6] m (36 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.26 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 17.40 m2 (187.2 ft2)
Empty weight: 1,990 kg (4,378 lb)
Gross weight: 3,450 kg (7,590 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Turboméca Marboré VI turbojet, 4.8 kN (1,058 lbf) thrust each
Performance
Maximum speed: 805 km/h (500 mph)
Cruising speed: 600 km/h (373 mph)
Range: 1400 km (870 miles)
Service ceiling: 13000 m (42,650 ft)
Rate of climb: 17.0 m/s (3,345 ft/min)
Armament
Underwing hardpoints
Provision for 20mm cannon in fuselage
Camo Saeta
Nice Pic showing the Lightning bolt on the Fuselage
Cockpit-
Video-
Author
Topic: The Hispano Ha-200 "Saeta", one of Willy Messerschmitt's last designs. (Read 13704 times)
