Aeritalia G.222
The Aeritalia G.222 (formerly Fiat Aviazione, later Alenia Aeronautica) is a medium-sized STOL military transport aircraft. It was developed to meet a NATO specification, but Italy was initially the only NATO member to adopt the type. The United States purchased 10 G.222s, designating them the C-27A Spartan in the 1990s. A G.222 was shot down over Yugoslavia, but formerly retired G.222 had a minimal service record in the former mission in Afghanistan; overall it has established itself in humanitarian missions and small missions from shorter less improved airstrips. Its modernized successor the C-27J has proven to be a moderate success on the international export market, as a twin turboprop military transport building on the legacy of the G.222.
| G.222 C-27A Spartan | |
|---|---|
| A US Air Force C-27A Spartan out of Howard AFB, Panama | |
| Role | Military transport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Fiat / Aeritalia / Alenia Aeronautica |
| First flight | 18 July 1970 |
| Introduction | April 1978 |
| Retired | 2012 (Afghan Air Force) |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Italian Air Force (historical) Nigerian Air Force Argentine Army Aviation (historical) |
| Produced | 1970–1993 |
| Number built | 111 |
| Developed into | Alenia C-27J Spartan |
A modernised variant, the Alenia C-27J Spartan, has been developed. While it retains many aspects of the original aircraft, the C-27J adopts the same engines and many of the systems used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. The C27J has been called the "Baby Herc".