The Weird-Looking Killer Plane that Caught Russia Off Guard

[@JP-mx1zs]

The Portuguese Ginas remained in service until 1993, 1 year before the arrival of F-16A's.

[@TigerBoyRS]

Yeah, Fiat G-91, a beautiful light attack jet. On same path of F-86, or Mig-15. Cheers

[@ChristianThePagan]

That is also a concise list of everything that would still have been left flying after a few months of a major shooting war in Europe at the time assuming it didn't go full nuclear. The only modification I'd make is to swap out the MiG-15 for the MiG-17 and maybe add the MiG-19 and F-100. Basically anything that could be flown off of improvised airstrips.

[@dmeinhertzhagen8764]

Ironically, the farm tractor seen pulling the FIAT G.91 “Gina” airplane at the 02:40 time mark was also manufactured by FIAT.

[@anandarochisha]

I was offered a tour of Montijo air force base near Setubal in Portugal in Summer of 1986. Sadly a maintenance ground crewman got sucked into the intake of the Fiat just hours before i was to arrive and it was canceled. As I recall it belonged to the 301st Jaguar Squadron. I did receive a Jaguares patch as a consolation prize. I heard the mechanic survived.

[@brunocalico]

In 1980 and 1985 Portuguese Air Force FIAT G.91R/3 Esquadra 301 "Jaguares" won the NATO Tigermeet. It was phased out in 1993.

[@pakkelly]

Excellent documentary on this somewhat obscure aircraft. Thank you.

[@ulin4226]

Growing up in Germany, I remember seeing the ‘Ginas’ in the sky. They were later replaced by the Lockheed F104 Starfighters, which were noisy as 💩!

[@donholiday4942]

Starfighters have mach 2 power so yes mach 2 noise

[@massmike11]

GE J-79 engine was definitely a noisy beast.

[@gruber0135]

Not exactly right. The Gina was in Luftwaffe service from 1960 - 1982. The F 104 was in Luftwaffe service from 1960 - 1991. Both together were the backbone of the Luftwaffe`s combat units. The Starfighters played a different role, mainly as interceptors and fighter bombers. They weren´t intended as close air support and due to their very poor maneuverability and flight characteristics especially at lower speed not capable to do that. The replacement for the Ginas was the Alpha Jet which the german pilots were not very happy with (at least in the beginning), because it wasn´t faster and stronger than the Gina. The Alpha Jet was called "Luftmoped" (Air moped in english).

[@olivierdk2]

The widowmakers were not the best replacement.

[@user-lo6cf3df1x]

Yeah because it was a mock two fighter jet

[@exocet1]

Several years I visited Portugal and went to the air museum at Sintra. saw lots of cool Portuguese aircraft there and saw a couple G-91

[@TKSubDude]

And it's a damn beautiful plane. G.91YS is my favorite.

[@whatinthefuckisahandle]

Another man of culture🤝

[@josemoreno3334]

What a cool looking fighter. This is the first time i seen videos of the G-91. I only seem them in photographs. Great video.👍

[@noesantana_com]

Thanks for the vid, it's interesting to see that the Italians designed and manufactured a fighter that was integrated into NATO as a frontline fighter. I never knew they had that capability post WWII.

[@bassetdad437]

If the G-91 caught Russia off guard they must have been asleep at the wheel for several years. The G-91 was an entrant in a NATO competition which went on for years. For many years a pocket sized book was issued each year called the Observers book of Aircraft. All these 'planes you say we never heard of or took everybody by surprise appeared in the Observers Books.

[@XRM123-f5k]

I have these books, by William Green.!! They are a real treasure.!!! 👍👍👍

[@mauricio-wq5lu]

Very underestimated concept.

[@tutwilson6590]

I was stationed at Lajes Field in Terceira, Azores ‘87-‘89. Used to see the G91 in ‘87, but they were gone by ‘89. Not really sure when the Portuguese Air Force retired them.

[@ryguy-qh2qk]

Was retired 1993

[@ryguy-qh2qk]

1993

[@paulocarvalho6480]

I grew up some fifteen miles from the Base Aerea N°6 (Air Base number 6) in Montijo, Portugal. We had these flying pretty much from sunrise to sunset every day for years. Whenever they didn't fly there was this eerie feeling that something was wrong. Obviously, it was during the weekends. 😂 Despite being so slick, surprisingly, there is plenty of space for the pilot and great view all around. Unfortunately, near the end of life expectancy they were very prone to accidents which caused some casualties, civilian included.

[@peteturner3928]

The FIAT G.91 obviously owed a great deal of its design to the North American F-86 Sabre. The layout is almost identical (except for the later twin engine version) the G.91 is just in a slightly more compact form with much more modern avionics, better engines and slightly shorter stronger wings better suited to ground attack missions etc. If you do a side by side comparison between the types they are remarkably similar in overall design terms (especially the larger RADAR nosed F-86D when it comes to ID'ing aircraft silhouettes). The Italian were not stupid, no need to reinvent the wheel when you can simply finesse it a little instead.

[@markr.1984]

Italy made some fearsome fighters in W.W.II also but just not very many of them. The Germans were impressed.

[@Recon59]

Gabrielli was a genius. He designed the Fiat G.55, a WW2 fighter, as well.

[@kurtcoolson9054]

Yes, the G55 - one of the best fighters of WW2. Arrived too late in the war to affect the outcome.

[@christopherrobinson7541]

The Fiat G.91 'Gina, suffered the same fate in Germany as later occurred with the F104G, too much weight.

[@RocketTCoyote]

I had obtained a photograph of a Luftwaffe 91T painted as "Royal Bavarian Air Force".

[@Tizanikgoesboom322]

An italian classic I even had the luck of seeing this beauty irl. Its truly a beautiful plane

[@aoife1122]

A little correction: the French Fouga Magister, a jet trainer and light attack aircraft, had been manufactured in West Germany by Messerschmitt and Heinkel under license in great numbers quite some time before the "Gina" was even a "thing".

[@loverhood2016]

Italaeri (naturally!) Did a nice kit of this little warbird that I made in79

[@XRM123-f5k]

Agree. I have it.!!! 😀💖👍👍

[@anthroderick5383]

Remember seeing these beauties flying low, still operational in the 80's Portuguese Air Force.

[@SPak-rt2gb]

Pretty close to looking like a F-86K

[@Charles-k9g5y]

Only so many designs that will fly.

[@ryguy-qh2qk]

I know right I always thought it looked like a sabre dog clone lol

[@Tizanikgoesboom322]

Tbe g91 was in fact inspired by the design of the F86 sabre

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Not by chance. Fiat licence-built the F-86K.

[@bobharrison7693]

How can you say the G.91 was "weird looking?" It looks a lot like an F-86D and no one ever called it weird looking.

[@giannidamiano9278]

Fiat was producing the F-86 K under licence for the Italian Air Force, and the design of the G91 was indeed heavily influenced by the North American fighter.

[@XRM123-f5k]

@@giannidamiano9278 AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AIRCRAFT, WITH ITS SHARK LIKE LOOKS.!!! ( Like the F-86D/K/L ).

[@mothmagic1]

No more weird looking than the F86D Sabre. Rather attractive in its own way. Sounds like the same concept that was adopted for the F-16.

[@ulpiotraiano3374]

The italians never called it Gina , the Germans did and the portuguese got it from them . We found that name a bit disturbing, in the italian air force after many year some pilots call it Gigetto ( little Luigi ) from the letter G off course.

[@McGyver0479]

La verità è tutti gli aerei progettati dall'ingegnere Fiat Gabrielli Giuseppe avevano la lettera G. Tutti gli altri nomi sono nati casualmente. Ciao

[@ulpiotraiano3374]

@McGyver0479 si lo so , g 50 ,g 55 , g 222 ect , volevo solo dire , che il nome Gina in Italia non venne mai usato , magari creato da qualche tedesco romantico . Ciao grazie

[@McGyver0479]

@@ulpiotraiano3374 Ripensandoci forse qualche volta veniva utilizzato. Ho qualche ricordo della rivista "Illustrato Fiat" che mensilmente arrivava a casa. Di tanto scrivevano articoli anche sugli aerei e il G91 non mancava. In quelle occasioni lo chiamavano Gigetto e Gina per non essere ripetitivi. Ciao

[@ulpiotraiano3374]

@McGyver0479 Gigetto si l ho sentito , Gina mai . Da parte nostra non ha senso , e decisamente poco italiano , ne affettuoso come Gigetto , ne combattivo , mi fa pensare piu a un sogno nordico di chi sa quale avventura amorosa attribuendo al G 91 una entita femminile , poi passando per osmosi all forza aerea portoghese . Credo .

[@leonardosousa297]

The PRT Air Force had them in several configurations, one armed with four 20mm cannons, and another with six .50 cal machine guns. We have both at the Sintra Air Museum!

[@josiasguiomar2504]

Always loved it! It resembles a open mouth shark!

[@travellingstranger3378]

lovely plane, interesting history

[@dude126]

Excellent post.

[@samghost13]

Of course the Jet has to have a beautiful name. I did not know and did not see that Jet before. THX! p.s: Your German is really good i have to say. Thumbs up!

[@nicowolf92]

One of these (a G91T, training version) from 60° Aeronautica Miltare squadron is resting down the street where I live; I've core memories with my dad near it. I saw the restored G91R in PAN colours at 150th AM anniversary at Pratica di Mare last year 🥺

[@samghost13]

Good old times where the Jets had beautiful paint jobs

[@garyK.45ACP]

Looks a lot like the F-86D "Sabre Dog"

[@petertyson4022]

I remember a airfix model box of this aircraft. Many many moons ago. It was in German colours. Never bought. But a good history lesson. Abount a aircraft that I didn't know much about. 👍

[@FrankDux-rq7go]

the fiat panda of the skies

[@Johnnydiamondlonglive]

Gorgeous italian lady.

[@pedrorodrigues7285]

Portuguese pilots were the first to test this fighter in combat and abroad. The name Gina was given because at that time the actress Gina Lolobrigida was a sex symbol and the pilots had a special relationship with this plane, affectionately calling it Gina. :)

[@benjaminrush4443]

Good one. Thanks.

[@MichaelDembinski]

As weird-looking as the North American F-86D

[@cateclism316]

Uncanny resemblance to the Dogship!

[@zimozim]

Had not actualy heard of this fighter

[@patwaters3486]

When were counter measures against the SAM-7 introduced?

[@samuelmoua1366]

I learned about this jet and it's many variants was because of war thunder. And I love it as is. Yes not much of a dogfighter but was there when needed as a cas fighter in the European airspace.

[@RedArrow73]

Thumbnail view looks like a malnourished Corsair II.

[@KerryWalker-i3e]

Cool aircraft 😎👍

[@nenadmse]

"The Weird-Looking Killer Plane that Caught Russia Off Guard" Russia did not exist at that time only USSR.

[@Mr-Hamter-yt]

Lesson learned: NEVER judge fighter jets made by car companies.

[@giovannidepetris6335]

Fiat g91 What a plane ! before the Fs was so cool

[@billferner6741]

Although I've never seen since my father worked at an F86 base, I was very interested in this plane. I remember some data that was very different from the F86. The take-off distance was labeled with 900m, and the landing's was 300m.

[@wolfgangemmerich7552]

We once used this planes for training at VANDEL Airbase in Denmark .

[@spacewater7]

God I wanna fly one.

[@chuckcawthon3370]

Magnificence

[@patolt1628]

"Defender of Europe's skies" is a little misleading since the G91 was not a pure fighter at all, it was designed for CAS mainly

[@theymusthatetesla3186]

Beautiful plane....sorta like a European Sabre!

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

Hi there RAF Gatow, its been a while

[@oleg1981]

Soviet Union. Not Russia...

[@squad-wh4ig]

Im ngl i thought this was a way upgraded f86

[@Julio4394]

I don't know about the G-91 Yankee version

[@JSFGuy]

No notice.

[@guglielmoventuri5853]

My grandfather worked on that plane

[@Idahoguy10157]

I wonder how it compares to the A-4 Skyhawk?

[@ryguy-qh2qk]

The world may never know

[@johntillman6068]

The Scoot is better. In the early 1950s, NATO already had the best light attack turbojet in the world, but Europeans needed aviation contracts.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Completely different concepts. Among the requirements of the NATO competition there was the ability of taking off and landing from semi-prepared and grass surfaces (like a WWII fighter). A thing the G91 did not only in theory, but often in practice. The A4 was much heavier and had a more powerful engine. Despite that, performances were pretty similar.

[@Idahoguy10157]

@@neutronalchemist3241 … being as the Skyhawk could operate off carriers….

[@20Mb01]

Finally

[@russbear7903]

over 4 aircraft ? would that be 5 then ?

[@chrisdk965]

The US Army looked at it but the Air Force would never have allowed it.

[@Alex-no1rb]

USSR*, not Russia

[@McGyver0479]

Il Portogallo ha restaurato un G91?

[@XRM123-f5k]

No need.!! They have plenty of them.!!! 👍👍😀😀🙂🙂 0:36

[@davidgaine4697]

Never heard of them before. Early post war jets are a mystery to me. Given that Italy and Germany were subject to strict limitations on their arms development it is hardly surprising but somewhat comforting that they produced war birds that though better than the Soviet Union they still couldn’t outclass what the Americans were building who had taken on the role of the World’s Policemen restricting Communist take over in the previous colonies but still providing adequate protection for European theaters...

[@R32R38]

While Portugal hung on to its African colonies way too long, with the exception of Guinea Bissau they're doing pretty well today.

[@vascoribeiro69]

Are they? Maybe Cabo Verde...

[@R32R38]

@@vascoribeiro69 Angola and Mozambique are not wealthy, though there's some oil money in the former, but they seem to be more stable than some other countries in the region. Sao Tome and Cape Verde are on about the same level. Only Guinea Bissau seems to be in bad shape.

[@fourskin4]

hi

[@auro1986]

you gave italians prototype of f8

[@junaidymohdmomen3219]

❤

[@THB1945]

Used to be a cancer CAS jet in War Thunder

[@draconian6692]

Wtf an arms embargo made portugal lose????!!!

[@vascoribeiro69]

By the revolution in April 25th 1975, most territories were controlled, the insurgents fighting from outside borders. We fought with the F-84G, T-6G, PV2 Harpoons, P2V5 Neptunes, Do27, Allouette III, A-26 Invader and Nord Noratlases. The F-86 Sabre were NATO equipment, so they shouldn't have been there. The revolution was made by the contracted military due to payments and career opportunities (they were fed up of the war also). In 1975, the overseas territories were granted independence, exception to East Timor that was invaded by Indonesia and Macau that kept the status until 1999.

[@XRM123-f5k]

@@vascoribeiro69 VERY GOOD ANALYSIS.!!! In the April-25-1974, IT WAS NOT A “REVOLUTION “.!!! It WAS a Militar Coup, by defeatists, communist inspired traitors to his Country, to deliver to Soviet “ sphere of influence “, all those former Portuguese territories . As they can not win the wars in Overseas, they “stabbed the country in the back” in Europe.!!! That, the World can thank to the Kennedy / McNamara administration.!!! 😡😡😡🐖🐖🐖🤬🤬🤬💩💩💩

[@jamesragus1577]

Complimentary algorithm enhancement comment!😊

[@Steven-p4j]

It looks very similar to the F-86J, so what exactly is weird about it?

[@XRM123-f5k]

F-86 J. ?????? Negative.!!! 👎👎

[@terencephillips6833]

This narrator sounds scared stiff of something.

[@janjager2906]

Yes indeed and I don’t understand why he does his narration in this speed. rattling speed. Make the video a few minutes longer, or skip some less important and relax the tempo a bit. This jagged tempo often let me quit his videos after a few minutes, while I like the topic.

[@terencephillips6833]

@@janjager2906 ..Exactly how I feel , pity because the subject matter is excellent but the narration sounds nervous and hurried.

[@michaeladams9641]

A highly modified F86

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Uhhh no. They looked similar, but only look at the dimensions. You can't "modify" an aircraft shrinking it.

[@marcr9541]

It was an independence struggle against the Portuguese colonial government.

[@maxsteffens]

Gorilas fight agaist Colonialist soldiers, forn Salazar

[@billysasterd5707]

Fiat, fix it again Tony

[@banmadabon]

Stale stereotype Bubba...

[@ambulanza]

10:17. i will call it a different way.. the war against white colonialism. And not a proxy war between us and urss... simply mozambique and angola wanted full freedom from the portuguese colonial rule. End of story

[@Lukaus1241]

Discovering later that the Portuguese rule delivered a way better standard of living

[@ambulanza]

@@Lukaus1241 this is what a colonial ruler will tell to the natives after abusing them and stealing all the natural resources...

[@super_slav91]

Folland Gnat was better

[@Lukaus1241]

Gnat was a training jet, not a fighter like G91

[@super_slav91]

@@Lukaus1241 HAL used it as a fighter and it beat sabres

[@davidgenie-ci5zl]

12:50 French Tricolor on an Italian Airforce tribute jet?

[@Tizanikgoesboom322]

That is the livery of the italian acrobatic team the "frecce tricolori" or "tricolor arrows"

[@piter6076]

Studia le bandiere...

[@Tizanikgoesboom322]

@@piter6076 esatto

[@Lukaus1241]

Poor pronunciation: it was “Frecce tricolori” but sounded a bit like “frenche tricolori”. Nothing to do with France though

[@Tizanikgoesboom322]

@@Lukaus1241 im literally italian dude