March 1973. Over the skies of Portuguese
Guinea, a Fiat G.91 'Gina,' a compact and nimble jet engineered for the rigors of combat,
darts through hostile airspace. The Portuguese colony is in flames and is falling prey to the
Proxy Wars of the Cold War, rebel guerrillas spreading disorder and violence across the vast
territory, outnumbering the European military. Designed in response to a NATO competition
for a versatile light attack aircraft, 'Gina' combined Italian engineering finesse with
rugged military functionality. It was ideally suited for counter-insurgency operations,
carrying rockets, napalm, and bombs. Below, armed with newly acquired Soviet
Strela 2 MANPADS, enemy rebels lie in wait, ready to challenge the air superiority long
dominated by the Portuguese. Then, within seconds, a hostile missile streaks across the horizon.
The pilot bravely decides to continue his run, delivering napalm and bombs to
protect the allied ground unit that has called for immediate close air support.
Explosions suddenly engulf the enemy ground forces, stopping them short of decimating
the entrenched Portuguese infantry. As the smoke from the strike clears, the pilot
spots an incoming missile. It’s a Strela 2, the rare vulnerability in the
storied history of the Ginas... The Korean War, which raged on from 1950 to
1953, provided the US and its allies with novel ideas about air warfare. For instance,
the war made the participating militaries realize the importance of dedicated jet-powered
ground attack aircraft to assist ground troops. Fearing the tensions of the Cold War could
result in another conflict in Europe against the Red Menace, NATO sought to be ready,
including arming the Western forces with a dedicated light tactical support aircraft.
Thus, NATO issued the NBMR-1 competition or NATO Basic Military Requirement 1. The
competition sought a versatile, efficient, cost-effective aircraft capable of close air
support, surveillance, and light strike missions. Despite several innovative designs, Fiat’s
G.91, an Italian fighter aircraft designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, was selected in 1958 for its
excellent performance, adaptability to various missions, and cost-effectiveness,
fulfilling NATO’s requirements. The G.91's victory in the competition marked a
significant achievement for the Italian aerospace industry. It led to its widespread adoption
by the Italian Air Force and several other NATO countries, including Germany and Portugal.
Like the American F-86 Sabre, the G.91, quickly dubbed Gina, was a compact, single-seat, and
single-engine fighter with highly swept wings and an all-metal fuselage featuring a semi-monocoque
design manufactured in three sections. It had a length of 33 feet, a width of 28
feet, a height of 13 feet, and a maximum take-off weight of 12,100 pounds. In compliance
with NATO's requirements, the Gina was compact, lightweight, and rugged, made to last even
under the most stressful conditions, such as landing and taking off from rough airstrips
and flying under intense weather conditions. The G.91 featured a straightforward, clean wing
and fuselage design that optimized aerodynamic efficiency. The wings were mid-mounted with
a slight sweep angle, which provided a good balance between speed performance and low-speed
handling, crucial for its close air support role. In addition, the Gina allowed easy
access to critical components, simplifying maintenance tasks for repair
crews. This was particularly valued in forward-operating bases where sophisticated
support facilities were often unavailable. To match the desired weight and performance, the
Gina was powered by a single Bristol Siddeley Orpheus turbojet engine mounted in a recessed
position in the fuselage. This placement helped reduce the aircraft’s radar cross-section and
protect the engine from ground fire. The choice of using a single engine also struck a balance
between power and cost-effective operation. Optimizing the engine for the Gina was not
easy, but the aircraft was able to reach an outstanding maximum speed of 668 miles per
hour, a rate of climb of 5,900 feet per minute, a service ceiling of around 43,000 feet,
and an approximate range of 710 miles. Armament flexibility was also part of the G.91
design. Besides its standard armament of four M2 Browning machine guns or 30-millimeter DEFA
cannons, it featured four hardpoints under the wings, allowing it to carry a variety of
NATO-standard armaments, including Matra rocket pods, Hispano SURA R80 80-millimeter
rockets, Nord AS-20 air-to-ground missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles,
and other gun pods and drop tanks. Such flexibility allowed the Gina to be
produced in several variants. The Gina R1 was a reconnaissance and close
air support version envisioned for gathering intelligence behind enemy lines.
The Gina 1R3 was tailored specifically for the Luftwaffe and featured stronger armament
capabilities, including the ability to carry the powerful Sidewinder missiles.
Fiat also developed two-seat models, but these were reserved for training purposes.
Another mode highlight was the Gina Yankee, which featured a more powerful engine setup with two
General Electric J85 engines, allowing for more incredible speed and improved flight performance.
It also featured increased fuel capacity, enhanced armament capabilities, and modern
avionics. The G.91Y was more extensive and capable than the earlier R and T models, intended
for more demanding combat and strike missions. The first Italian G.91 Gina took to the
skies for the first time in February 1958 with a bird’s grace. Minor issues related to
aerodynamics and wing performance were quickly rectified in the following months so that the
Italian Air Force could accept it into service. Once all the modifications were done
in August 1958, the Italian Air Force created the 103 Gruppo, 5a Aerobrigata, Caccia
Tattici Leggeri, or Light Tactical Fighter Group, to conduct military tests with the aircraft
before extending its use to other units. The highly specialized unit was based initially
at the Pratica di Mare Air Force Base in Pomezia, Lazio, southwest of Rome. Although trials
were successful with the Italian pilots, the 103rd Light Tactical Fighter Group
was relocated to Frosinone's smaller, more austere base so the men and engineers
could focus on testing the Gina to its limits. Soon, the Italian pilots began performing
exercises across several Italian bases close to Maniago, Venice, Campoformido, and
others in the presence of NATO officials. By 1961, the G.91 Gina had proven to be
a capable fighter, creating a second unit dubbed 14mo Gruppo, Seconda Aerobrigata
or 14th Group, Second Air Brigade, envisioned as a tactical support unit.
In early 1964, as Cold War tensions rose between the West and the East due to the
ongoing conflict in Vietnam between the North and the South, all of the pre-production
Ginas employed by the Italians were replaced by the standard G.91 R/1 combat aircraft.
This also marked the introduction of the first two-seater G.91T/1 aircraft, which featured
a lengthened fuselage for training purposes for use with the Scuola Volo Basico Avanzato or
Amendola flying school for advanced jet training. Consequently, the pre-production G.91 Ginas were
transferred to the Italian Acrobatic Team, the Frecce Tricolori, and their armament was replaced
with smoke tanks, ballast, and pitch dampers. All of these airplanes were dubbed G.91
PANs and would go on to accumulate over 1,500 flight hours per year with an
efficiency rate of more than 90%. The arrival of the G.91 Gina aircraft marked
a new era for the Luftwaffe, with West Germany becoming the second European nation to operate
these Italian fighters. In early September 1960, the Luftwaffe welcomed its first two G.91
Ginas, swiftly assigning them to air group Erprobungstelle 61 for rigorous military trials.
After an extensive evaluation phase, these fighters found a new home at
the Aufklärungsgeschwader 53, the 53rd Reconnaissance Group based in Erding, Munich. As
the trials continued to show promising results, a significant milestone was achieved on July 20,
1961, when the first German-built Gina soared into the sky. Crafted by Dornier, this G.91 R/3
model not only proved its worth but also laid the groundwork for integrating Ginas into other
Luftwaffe units, including four newly established Leichte Kampfgeschwader, or light attack wings.
These Ginas, notably the first aircraft produced in post-World War 2 Germany, heralded a new
phase, replacing the aging American Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks. By October 1961,
Aufklärungsgeschwader 53 proudly became the first squadron to fully integrate the G.91
into operational service, with training flights commencing by May 1962. The following year, the
Luftwaffe conducted an intensive evaluation of the G.91's capabilities, testing its resilience
under harsh and variable weather conditions. The G.91 was also put through its paces in Béchar
Province, Algeria, where it underwent demanding tests to assess its performance in diverse
and extreme weather conditions. Over time, the West German military took delivery of
more than 300 German and Italian G.91 Ginas, including 45 G.91 T/3 two-seater trainers.
These trainers were instrumental in acquainting Luftwaffe Weapons Systems Officers, or "Wizzos,"
with the intricacies of the American F-4 Phantom. However, not all developments were positive.
The addition of underwing weapons pylons, though increasing firepower, also added
weight, diminishing the aircraft's agility and performance. This dissatisfaction
was famously symbolized by the pig emblems painted on several Gina airframes,
critiquing their underwhelming performance. Despite these challenges, the Gina remained
a cost-effective solution for the Luftwaffe. Portugal was the third NATO country to
adopt the G.91 Gina and the only one to use it under real combat operations. In the
early 1960s, the country from the peninsula still owned several of its colonial
possessions in the African continent. The proxy wars between the US and the Soviet
Union, alongside the stream of nationalistic ideas, had engulfed Africa in flames, and
the Portuguese territories were no exception. As a result, the Portuguese deployed
its military to impose order in what would become the Portuguese Colonial War or
the Overseas War. Initially, the Portuguese dispatched several of its American F-86 Sabres
to Portuguese Guinea in August 1961. Still, they were forced to withdraw them before use
due to an arms embargo by the UN and the USA. The Portuguese ground troops had to fight
off the guerrillas without close air support, leading to mounting casualties when
they were overwhelmed by hostile forces. As the fighting intensified by 1965,
the armed forces grew desperate and attempted to come around the arms embargo by
purchasing over 100 Sabres from West Germany. The Portuguese were instead offered 40 heavily
armed G.91 R/4s, initially destined for Turkey and Greece. The Ginas were immediately used
in Guinea and Mozambique one year later. No enemy asset threatened the Portuguese
Ginas in their quest for supremacy until the early 1970s when the Soviets supplied
the enemy with Strela 2 launchers. Gina pilots had to change their tactics to avoid
MANPADs fire from below, but even then, over four aircraft were shot down by rebel troops by 1973.
One year later, the Portuguese government granted independence to its colonies and
retired its Ginas from service. In the 1980s, the Ginas were gradually
phased out in Germany, replaced by the more sophisticated Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet
as technology and military requirements evolved. Continuing into the 1990s, the Italian Air
Force extended the life of the Gina until 1995, when it transitioned to the AMX Ghibli. This
newer ground-attack aircraft, developed in collaboration between Italy and Brazil,
was designed for similar roles as the G.91, focusing on ground-attack missions, close
air support, and reconnaissance tasks. The AMX boasted updated avionics, enhanced
survivability, and the capability to carry a more diverse payload, adapting to
the shifting demands of modern air forces. Although the G.91 was officially retired in 1992,
a restored G.91R once again graced the skies more than 30 years later to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the Italian Aeronautica Militare. This special flight originated from Piacenza Air
Base, piloted by retired Italian Air Force General Maurizio Lodovisi, who had accumulated
over 6,000 flight hours on the aircraft. The restoration of this particular G.91R was a
joint effort between Renzo Catellani's Volafenice team and the Italian Air Force. Sporting civilian
registration I-AMIC and adorned with the colors of the Frecce Tricolori instead of its original NATO
camouflage, this aircraft's flight did more than just celebrate the centenary of the Italian
Air Force—it also acknowledged the G.91’s significant contributions to the aviation
histories of Italy, Portugal, and Germany.
