The empty weight is given as 720 kg, with a maximum take-off weight of 1,135 kg. This makes it an absolute lightweight among jet trainers. The aircraft performs best at just 10,000 ft, already showing its most favorable characteristics at this relatively low altitude.
What remained unclear for me was the range. The question was: would it be sufficient for the route from Amendola AB to Sigonella AB? On paper, this is only 519 km. In practice, however, taxiing, climb, approach with possible traffic pattern, and inevitable deviations due to wind extend the distance – especially since the Ventura has no autopilot and even a small gust pushes it off the ideal line.
The planning tool calculated a flight time of 1 hour and 38 minutes. In reality, under excellent weather conditions and without exceeding the aircraft’s limits, it took 1 hour, 20 minutes and 25 seconds from brake release to engine shutdown at Sigonella.
Fuel consumption was also a positive surprise: 31 percent remained on landing. The alternate at Catania could therefore be ignored.
At Amendola AB, the future of military aviation has already begun: drones.
“The aircraft was never delivered to the Italian Air Force. Like the other two prototypes, it remained with the manufacturer as a testbed under civilian registration. Despite its camouflage paint, the little machine looks less military – more like a motor glider.”
Leaving the Italian mainland and crossing the Strait of Messina.
The instruments prove it: wind drift and a loss of altitude. I am just in the process of correcting it
We are not alone. Far above, a Boeing 737 crosses the Strait of Messina in the opposite direction.”
Sicily and Mount Etna come into view.
Catania Airport (LICC). A glance at fuel consumption shows that I can comfortably continue the flight.
Here, the unique characteristics of this aircraft are clearly visible. It has no flaps, but effective spoilers and can descend quite steeply. However, the landing procedure differs from conventional aircraft
A small gust of wind during the landing approach. Correction is required
“All’s well that ends well. A glance at the fuel figures shows I could still have reached Palermo from Sigonella. For Malta, it would not have been quite enough.”
