HA-220 SUPER SAETA gallery

2018-11-032020-09-27 Javier

supersaetax1 — This is the HA-220 Super Saeta prototype, designated as X10-C-1. The aircraft belongs to the Cuatro Vientos Aeronautic Museum’s collection, located in Madrid, Spain, and is permanently exhibited.

supersaetax5 — The prototype was built modifying the HA-200D factory number 41 aircraft, and made its maiden flight under Super Saeta designation on April 25, 1970. In July 1973 it was incorporated into the 406th experimentation Squadron belonging to INTA with base in Torrejón, Madrid, where it was until June 1978.

supersaetax6 — On June 26, 1978, this aircraft became part of the 214th Squadron based in Morón, Sevilla. There, it was assigned the license C-10C-91 and there served until the retirement on January 27, 1983.

supersaetax8 — After withdrawal it was sent to the Air Arsenal in Seville, but when Tablada aerodrome closed, this aircraft was sent to Cuatro Vientos AFB. On March 14, 1989, the aircraft was donated to the Cuatro Vientos Aeronautic Museum.

supersaetax9 — The aircraft has been restored twice, the first time in 1998 and the second in recent dates. This aircraft was usually exposed in Hangar 1 entrance, but due to works in this building, actually the aircraft had to be relocated.

supersaetax — This prototype has installed two pods for photo reconnaissance missions, although in reality, it was never very suitable for such missions. On the other hand, it turned out to be an excellent aircraft for ground attack missions, because it had great stability in flight.

supersaeta9 — Although the HA-200D model could carry out attack missions efficiently in low intensity conflicts, a more effective tactical aircraft was needed and that is how, taking advantage of the excellent flight capabilities of the Saeta, the HA-220 Super Saeta arose.

supersaeta14 — The HA-220D‘s Turbomeca Marboré II engines were replaced by more powerful Marboré VI N2 turbofans of 480 kg of thrust each instead of 400 kg of the previous engine.

supersaeta10 — The fixed armament of the HA-220 remained the same as that of the HA-200D, but four underwing hardpoints were installed for rocket launchers and bombs, doubling the weapons loading capacity.

supersaeta7 — HA-220 Super Saeta was conceived as a single-seater aircraft so the rear seat was removed and a 227 liters capacity fuel tank was installed in its place, allowing it to have a greater radius of action than its predecessor.

supersaeta12 — The front glass of the cockpit was armoured to protect the pilot as much as possible from small arms fire. The Super Saeta was especially effective in ground attack with unguided rockets due to its stability in the air.

supersaeta17 — This is the HA-220‘s instrumentation panel, though it is not the original, because a GPS device can be seen, (next to the joystick), and logically did not exist at the time. As a curiosity we can see a small red sign over the white note wich indicates: “VUELO INVERTIDO MAXIMO, 10 SEG.”, (“Inverted flight, maximum 10 seconds”), passed this time, the fuel supply to the engines was seriously compromised due to the aircraft design.

supersaeta21 — All HA-220 were painted with a desert camouflage scheme instead of the silver livery of their brothers, more typical of school and training aircrafts and certainly not appropriate for tactical missions.

supersaeta19 — The initial designation for the HA-220 within the Spanish Air Force was that of C-10C and the numerals were from 91 to 115. In April 1978, it was changed to A-10C for the attack variant and AR-10C for some aircrafts prepared for reconnaissance missions.

supersaeta0 — However, the HA-220 did not have the opportunity to participate in any armed action within the 1975 Sahara conflict, unlike the previous HA-200D, which had an active role in the campaign. The Super Saetas were not even deployed, because the aircrafts deployed on the Sahara were from the 46th Wing based in Gando, Gran Canaria.

supersaeta5 — This aircraft, with registration 214-52, is preserved in the Morón AFB, and in fact it is a hybrid between an HA-200D and an HA-220. The front part of a HA-220 Super Saeta has been installed in the fuselage of an HA-200D Saeta, although it must be clarified that this modification has been made for aesthetic purposes, but it was never carried out on active aircrafts.

supersaeta18 — This magnificent HA-220 currently belongs to Fundación Aérea de la Comunidad Valenciana, (Air Foundation of the Valencian Community), and served with the 214th Squadron until the end of 1981. In March 2002 it was acquired in a public auction by the Club Acrobático del Mediterráneo, (Aerobatic Mediterranean Club), and after being submitted to a complete restoration, in January 2004 the aircraft was ceded to the Foundation. The aircraft is kept in flight condition and regularly participates in aerial exhibitions.

supersaeta22 — This is the HA-220 with military registration C10C-104 and also belongs to the Cuatro Vientos Aeronautic Museum´collection. It was manufactured at the end of 1972 with serial number 20-109 and was in service until June 1, 1982, being delivered to the Museum on January 24, 1983.

supersaeta23 — The C10C-104 began its career within the 406th Squadron based in Torrejón AFB where it was until November 1973. Then, it was transferred to the 203rd Squadron based at Villanubla AFB until 1975, when returned to the 406th Squadron again. In April 1976 this aircraft joined its final destination within the 214th Squadron until its withdrawal in June 1982.

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