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Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet
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==Design== [[File:Alpha Jet Repair HDR (7380494872).jpg|thumb|upright|A partly disassembled Alpha Jet during maintenance]] The Alpha Jet is a light twin-engine aircraft equipped with an intentionally simple airframe despite the performance delivered. Both the [[leading edge]]s and air intakes are fixed; while the [[aerodynamics|aerodynamic]] shape of the aircraft, which was developed with the aid of [[computer aided design]] (CAD), conforms with the [[area rule]].<ref name = "lamb 266">Lambert 1974, p. 266.</ref> Fully powered controls are used, comprising a dual-[[hydraulics|hydraulic]] systems and load-factor limited dynamic feel system arrangement attached to conventional [[flight control surfaces]].<ref name = "lamb 266"/> The cockpit is [[cabin pressurization|pressurised]] for greater comfort during training. The Alpha Jet is designed to accommodate ten-minute turn around times with minimal ground equipment, using features such as pressurised single-point refueling, ladder-less entry/exit of the cockpit, and a ten-hour endurance of the [[liquid oxygen]] system.<ref name = "lamb 266"/> The Alpha Jet was designed to perform a diverse range of roles. The principal users of the type, Germany and France, operated their Alpha Jets in different capacities, the German as a [[ground attack]] platform and the French as a [[trainer (aircraft)|trainer aircraft]].<ref name = "flight 1148"/> Beyond performing different roles, the Alpha Jet fleets of France and Germany noticeably differed in their specification and equipment. German aircraft were fitted with a more extensive weapon-aiming system, a different fuel system, a [[yaw damper]], different [[brake]]s, nosewheel steering, an [[arrester hook]], and Stencel [[ejector seat]]s in place of [[Martin-Baker]].<ref name = "flight 1148"/> The majority of the specialised equipment used on the ground attack-orientated variant of the Alpha Jet was provided by German firms.<ref>Lambert 1974, pp. 266, 277.</ref> In addition to the ground attack role, the Luftwaffe employed the Alpha Jet in the [[Electronic countermeasure#Aircraft ECM|electronic countermeasures]] (ECM) and [[aerial reconnaissance]] roles; for the latter purpose, a reconnaissance pod could be fitted upon the port [[hardpoint]].<ref name = "flight 1148"/><ref name = "lamb 265"/> The Alpha Jet is powered by a pair of [[SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac]] [[turbofan]] engines. It is a low bypass-ratio, twin-spool engine that uses modular construction methods.<ref name = "engine flight"/> The Larzac was a new engine at the time, having only performed its first run a year prior to being selected to power the Alpha Jet. The need for greater thrust to power the aircraft than the original model of the engine could generate led to the development and adoption of the 2,970 lb ''Larzac 04'' in February 1972. This version of the engine initially powered the Alpha Jet.<ref name = "engine flight">Fulton, Ken. [https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1974/1974%20-%200298.html "Power for the Alpha Jet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803123521/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1974/1974%20-%200298.html |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 8 February 1974. p. 268.</ref> West Germany was interested in powering the type with the [[General Electric J85]], but France objected to the use of an American engine which would result in US export restrictions upon the overall aircraft and agreed to assume the cost of developing the French-built Larzac.<ref name = "kocs 114">Kocs 1995, p. 114.</ref> During the 1980s, an upgraded model of the Larzac engine which increased the thrust by 10 per cent was developed.<ref>"New Engine Being Developed for Alpha Jet." ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', McGraw-Hill, 1982. Volume 116, Issues 22-26, p. 115.</ref> The avionics of the original version of the Alpha Jet were of an austere nature, partly to make it a simple and easily exportable aircraft.<ref name = "kocs 115"/> The basic type lacked features such as an [[autopilot]], [[inertial navigation]], or a [[radar]].<ref name = "kocs 115"/> Later upgrade programs typically focused on the addition of a [[glass cockpit]] and other avionics systems. The Luftwaffe's Alpha Jets were equipped with additional avionics for the attack role, such as a [[Doppler radar]] and additional [[hardpoint]]s.<ref name = "flight 1148"/> During the 1970s, Dornier claimed that the Alpha Jet outperformed aircraft used as the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]], [[LTV A-7 Corsair II]], and [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II]] in the [[close air support]] role. The firms stated that the Alpha Jet was smaller, faster, less vulnerable, more maneuverable, cheaper and had higher all-round performance than the A-10.<ref name = "flight 1148"/> The Alpha Jet was more complex than competing second generation trainer aircraft, requiring seven [[man hour]]s of maintenance for every flight hour.<ref name = "flight manuf 1978"/> Nearly 5,000lb of munitions and equipment can be carried on five hardpoints, four on the wings and one at the centerline on the lower fuselage.<ref name = "flight manuf 1978"/> In an armed configuration, a [[gun pod]] containing a 30 mm [[DEFA cannon]], as installed on French aircraft, or 27 mm [[Mauser BK-27]] [[Cannon#Aircraft use|cannon]], as installed on German aircraft, would typically be installed upon the centerline hard point.<ref name = "flight manuf 1978"/>
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