The Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon has a Hispano HA-200 Saeta (Arrow) the first Spanish turbojet aircraft. This is a twin-set jet advanced trainer.
Designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Rafael Rubio Elola, the HA-200 prototype first flew in 1955, but production model did not fly until 1962.
During World War II, Willy Messerschmitt designed the first functional German jet fighter. Following the war, he left Germany and in 1951 he settled in Spain where he designed aircraft for the Spanish government in conjunction with Hispano Aviación. Messerschmitt promoted the idea of an independent Spanish aviation industry.
In the 1950s, Egypt was also considering developing its own jet planes. In 1959, Messerschmitt acted as a go-between between Spain and Egypt which led to the HA-200 being produced under license in Egypt. A total of 90 HA-200s were produced in Egypt where they were called the Helwan HA-200B Al-Kahira.
This aircraft has a top speed of 500 mph, a cruising speed of 373 mph, a service ceiling of 42,540 feet, and a range of 870 miles. A total of 212 (including 90 in Egypt) were produced.
Shown above is the nose intake for the pair of turbojet engines.
Note: These photographs were taken on October 16, 2024.
More airplane stories
Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum: World War II German jet and rocket-powered aircraft (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Jet fighters of the 1950s (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Korean War fighter planes (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Some Cold War era fighters (photo diary)
McChord Air Museum: The North American F-86D Sabre (photo diary)
Olympic Flight Museum: Jets (photo diary)
Evergreen Aviation Museum: F-94 Starfire (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Lockheed F-22 Raptor (photo diary)