Arsenal VG 90
Arsenal de l'Aéronautique · France · first flew 1949 · fighter
The Arsenal VG 90 was a French experimental single-seat carrier-based jet fighter prototype developed by Arsenal de l'Aéronautique in the late 1940s for the Aéronavale, featuring a swept wing and a single turbojet engine. It was one of several French postwar jet fighter prototypes competing for production contracts.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.44 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French single-engine carrier-based jet fighter prototype of the late 1940s
- Swept wing with a single turbojet and tricycle undercarriage, designed for French Navy
- Competed with SNCASE Aquilon and other types for the Aéronavale jet programme
A sleek swept-wing single-engine jet with a nose intake, mid-set wings, and a conventional tail — resembling early British and American carrier jet prototypes of the same period.
Specifications
- The Arsenal VG 90 has a length of 13.44 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.6 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 855 km/h (531 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Arsenal developed the VG 90 alongside their VB 10 piston-powered fighter, representing a rapid transition to jet technology after World War II. The prototype flew in 1949 but was lost in a fatal accident in 1952, and no production order followed, with France ultimately adopting naval versions of existing British and American designs.
Variants
Only two prototypes were built (VG 90-01 and 02); the programme ended after the crash.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; the Aéronavale eventually procured the Aquilon (de Havilland Venom derivative) and later the Étendard for carrier operations.
Related aircraft
- Arsenal VB 10
- Arsenal VG-33
- Dassault MD 450 Ouragan
- de Havilland DH.112 Venom
- De Havilland DH.113 Vampire NF
- de Havilland Venom FB.1
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