Alenia G.222

Alenia Aeronautica / Fiat Aviazione · Italy · first flew 1970 · transport aircraft

The Alenia G.222 (marketed for export as the C-27 Spartan) is an Italian twin-turboprop tactical transport designed for short-field operations and troop or cargo carrying. It formed the backbone of Italian Air Force tactical airlifts for several decades.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	22.7 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Twin-turboprop tactical transport with high wing and rear ramp
T-tail absent — conventional tail with broad dorsal fin
Italian-built equivalent in size and role to the CASA CN-235

A stocky high-wing twin-turboprop with a prominent nose radome, rear loading ramp, and a conventional (non-T) tail; smaller and stubbier than a C-130 but in the same broad shape class.

Specifications

The Alenia G.222 has a length of 22.7 m (74 ft).
It has a wingspan of 28.7 m (94 ft).
Its maximum speed is 540 km/h (336 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by Fiat in the 1960s to a NATO specification, the G.222 first flew in 1970 and entered Italian service in 1978. It was exported to several countries and formed the basis of the modernised C-27J Spartan, which replaced it with updated Allison turboprops and advanced avionics.

Variants

The G.222 RM was an electronic countermeasures variant; the G.222VS was an electronic intelligence gatherer. The C-27J Spartan is a modernised successor with Allison AE 2100 engines.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Italy, Libya, Somalia, Nigeria, Venezuela, and others; the C-27J derivative is in service with the US Army, Australia, and several European air forces.

Related aircraft

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