FIAT G.81 (what-if)

[mat]

FIAT G.81 (What-if)
Shortly after the first flight of the prototype D.H. 112 Venom, FIAT Aviazone, Aermacchi and Alfa Romeo aquired a licence to produce the Venom and the de Havilland Ghost engine. They planned to produce 1.100 Venom Fighters and the associated Ghost engines. In 1952 the Italian Air Force (AMI) ordered 80 Venoms – but the programme could not be financed with NATO funds and that meant the end to these plans.

The italian aircraft industry had another jet plane on the way. Already in 1951, FIAT had designed the jet trainer G.80. It performed its maiden flight on 9 december 1951. Two prototypes and three preproduction aircraft were built, however, quantity production of the G.80 did not proceed after the Aeronautica Militare found it did not fulfil their requirements.

But what-if the FIAT decided to develop a tandem seated trainer version of the Venom to meet the Italian Air Forces requirements.

The plane was put in production as the FIAT G.81 and lifted off for the first time in 10 january 1954. AMI ordered a first batch of 60 planes and they entered service i 1955. More batches and export orders followed.

My build is based on the remains of a FROG Sea Venom, which I tried to convert to a single seater long ago in another century.

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[PR19_Kit]

A TANDEM 2 seat trainer? Now THAT'S different.   

[NARSES2]

Looking forward to this 

[mat]

The front end of the G.81 is made out of the remains of a Matchbox Hawker Hunter, that became a RDAF T.53.

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[Old Wombat]

Hey, the box art has Skippies on the Venom! 

I played with the real thing at the RAN FAA Museum back in the mid-80's. 

[mat]

The new front have been added to the rest of the fuselage and blended in with some plasticcard. Ahead lies som PSR work.

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[RAFF-35]

I love it already!! Can't wait to see it finished,  should be very pretty 

[Dizzyfugu]

Looks elegant! 

[mat]

The PSR are ongoing

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[PR19_Kit]

PSR is ALWAYS ongoing! 

[mat]

The different parts of the plane are now glued together. More PSR ahead.

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[Old Wombat]

That looks sufficiently different to be significantly cool!       

[loupgarou]

That looks sufficiently different to be significantly cool!       

Indeed! Very good idea. Intriguing shape that will drive JMN nuts. 

[mat]

That looks sufficiently different to be significantly cool!       

Indeed! Very good idea. Intriguing shape that will drive JMN nuts. 

Pardon my ignorance. Whats the meaning of JMN?

[mat]

All the PSR are now done, and the FIAT G.81 is ready for some paint.

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