Embraer Unveils First Saab F-39E Gripen Assembled in Brazil

aviationweek.com

16 pointswslh5 comments

> making the single-seat fighter also the first supersonic aircraft manufactured in Latin America

Would the Ariane rockets also qualify as "supersonic aircraft manufactured in Latin America" in some overly pedantic way?

I mean, personally I wouldn't consider it as manufactured there (as it's only final assembly), whether French Guiana actually belongs to Latin America is also up for debate and even designating a rocket as an aircraft would be a stretch in my opinion, but I would be interested to know how it can be objectively dismissed.

Aircraft depend on the air for lift and/or propulsion. Rockets do not; they are not aircraft because they can operate outside of the atmosphere.

*AIR*craft are craft that need & use air. Rockets not only do not need air, they prefer a lack of air. So they are not aircraft. They are spacecraft (they are designed for and prefer space)

To clarify they use air to generate lift and hence the ability to travel in the Z-axis, not that they need air to make the propulsion system work.

Edit: if you strapped a Raptor engine to a 747 it would still be an aircraft.

You outpedanted me, nicely done, sir.

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