Ambrosini (Aerfer) Sagittario II

After tests with a 45° sweptback wing fitted to an otherwise standard Ambrosini S.7, thus nicknamed Freccia (Arrow), the designer Sergio Stefanutti designed the Sagittario (Archer) powered by a 400kg thrust Turbomeca Marbore turbojet. Intended mainly for aerodynamic research into transonic compressibility, the Sagittario was built largely of wood, and flew for the first time on 5 January 1953. From this initial prototype Stefanutti subsequently developed the Sagittario II, which made its maiden flight on 19 May 1956. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Derwent 9 turbojet, this more advanced aircraft was virtually a new design and of all-metal construction. The Sagittario II was the first aircraft of Italian design to exceed Mach unity when it reached Mach 1.1 in a dive on 4 December 1956.