FMA I.Ae.27    Pulqui 1

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On August 9, 1947, at 5.25 PM, the normally quiet skies over Córdoba hills, in central Argentina, were forever altered by the sight of an aircraft that had unique characteristics. It was the Pulqui (meaning arrow in the native Araucarian language), flown by Argentine Air Force Lieutenant Edmundo Osvaldo Weiss. This event marked the beginning of a new era in Argentina’s aviation technology. From that moment on, the country had added itself to the privileged circle of nations capable of designing, building and flying jet airplanes.

 

 

This historic flight was the culmination of the research and design work which had started a year earlier at the Córdoba Aerotechnical Institute (Instituto Aerotécnico de Córdoba). The task had been carried out by a team of engineers: the Frenchman Emil Dewoitine and the Argentines Cardehilac, N. L. Morchio and H. J. Ricciardi. The result was a monoplane, single-engine aircraft that embodied a sophisticated solution to multiple technological problems. This proved to the world as well as Argentines themselves that the skill of Argentine engineers and technicians, once they had overcome the "believing that we can’t" barrier, was capable of laying the foundations for future National aerospace production.

TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Fighter
Power plant: one -1633 kg thrust Rolls-Royce Derwent 5
Span: 11,25 m
Wing area: 19,70 m2
Length: 9.69 m
Height: 3,29 m
Empty weight: 1358 kg
Max take-off: 2.041 kg
Max speed: 720km/h
Service ceiling: 15,500m
Max range: 900 km
Weapons: 4  20 mm guns (not fitted)

Pulqui I

Go to Pulqui II

Special thanks to

Mr. Arthur E. Woodgate, 1st Lt

Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Texas Wing

Civil Air Patrol - The US Air Force Auxiliary