I.Ae. 41 Urubú
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Córdoba , Argentina |
| Products | Aircraft, including I.Ae.41 Urubú glider |
The I.Ae.41 Urubú was an Argentine two-seat tailless flying wing glider developed and manufactured by the Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) during the 1950s.
History
In response to a 1951 request from aeroclubs for a side-by-side two-seat sport glider, the Department of Aeronautics assigned the project to the Instituto Aerotécnico (I.Ae.) in Córdoba. The design, led by Reimar Horten—renowned for his work on tailless flying wings—was designated H.XVc and later named I.Ae.41 "Urubú" (meaning "owl" in mapudungun). Production at FMA was limited to five aircraft, with the inaugural flight taking place in 1953.
A notable event occurred in September 1956 when, following a proposal from the Civil Aviation Directorate, pilots Hans Scheidhauer and Claudio Dori undertook an Andes crossing using the I.Ae.41 Urubú alongside a Slingsby Sky glider. Their journey from San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina) to Paraje Ensenada (Chile) lasted approximately three hours and traversed key mountainous regions.
Description
The I.Ae.41 was primarily constructed from wood and featured a roomy cockpit accommodating two occupants side-by-side. It incorporated aerodynamic enhancements over its predecessor, the I.Ae. 34 Clen Antú, which improved its stability in turbulent conditions. Its landing gear was arranged in tandem and equipped with upgraded shock absorption for better ground handling.
Surviving aircraft
A restored example of the I.Ae.41 Urubú is exhibited at the Argentine Air Force’s Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina, situated at Morón Airport.
See also
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Burzaco, Ricardo. "Las Alas de Perón, Aeronáutica Argentina 1945/1960", 1995, Editorial Da Vinci.