Italian jets. S. Ivanov - Italian Reggiane fighters in World War II. Aviation Schools Command
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At the same time as the German L. Folpert, in Italy the problem of improving the Coanda engine, which creates jet thrust only due to an air stream (without additional combustion of fuel), was dealt with by the aviation engineer Luigi Stipa. At the end of the 1920s. L. Stipa, who at that time served as the chief inspector of the technical department in the Italian Air Force, proposed original design aircraft using a tube fuselage to increase efficiency propeller.
The Italian Ministry of Aviation signed a contract with Caproni to build a prototype of the Stipa aircraft. The aircraft, which received the designation C.S. (Caproni-Stipa), outwardly looked awkward due to its short barrel-shaped fuselage-pipe, inside of which a de Havilland Gipsy III 120 hp power was installed at the front. With. with a propeller. A two-seater cabin was located on top of the fuselage; the landing gear consisted of two main non-retractable wheels and a tail spike. The wing was reinforced at the top and bottom with braces. The fin and the middle part of the tail stabilizer were located in the air flow zone created by the propeller, which made the aircraft very stable and well controlled in flight.
Prototype first flew on October 7, 1932, the aircraft flew well and proved that installing a propeller inside a cylindrical duct increases efficiency power plant, and the supporting fuselage large diameter gives an increase in lift (up to 37%) compared to a conventional aircraft with a similar engine and the same wing load. The aircraft had a very low landing speed (68 km/h) and was much quieter in flight than a conventional aircraft.
During the tests, the aircraft was modified - the area of the elevators was increased and the design of the rear fuselage was slightly changed. Upon completion of the tests, the aircraft was transferred to the Air Force Research Center, where it received registration number MM.187. The aircraft successfully completed these tests as well. However, the results obtained did not satisfy the military, mainly due to the low maneuverability of the aircraft, small volume for the payload and limited visibility for the pilot from the cockpit, so in 1933 the test program was completed and the aircraft was dismantled.
Despite the lack of interest on the part of the Italian Air Force in the C.S. aircraft, L. Stipa developed several designs for aircraft of this design to transport 100 passengers, including a six-engine “flying wing”. In addition, he patented his design in 1938 in Germany, Italy and the United States, and in France a project was being developed for the BN 4 night bomber, which was similar in design to L. Stipa's aircraft.
Characteristics of C.S.: crew – 2 people, power plant – 1 x PD de Havilland Gipsy III with a power of 120 hp. s., wingspan - 14.28 m and its area - 19.0 m2, aircraft length - 5.88 m, height - 3.0 m, empty weight - 595 kg, take-off weight - 850 kg, maximum speed - 131 km/h, flight duration – 40 minutes.
In January 1931, engineer Secondo Campini founded his own company VENAR (Velivole e Natanti a Reazione) in Milan, designed to develop aircraft and boats with jet propulsion, and at the same time submitted documentation for his new aircraft to the Italian Ministry of Aviation aircraft engine, which promised to achieve great speeds and heights. In January and July 1932, he received two patents for the design of a jet aircraft.
First practical application scientific research S. Campini became jet boat, built with the participation of the company Costruzioni Meccaniche Riva, which worked in the field of creation hydraulic equipment. At the beginning of 1932, a boat was tested in Venice, equipped with a motor-compressor air-breathing engine invented by S. Campini, which used an Asso 200 piston engine to drive a three-stage compressor. Tests showed that a boat with a Campini engine was superior in performance speed boats Italian Navy, equipped with conventional engines internal combustion. After this demonstration of the advantages of the VRDK, the Italian Air Force on February 5, 1934 signed a contract worth 4.5 million lire with the VENAR company, according to which by December 31, 1936 the company was to develop and build two prototypes of a two-seater aircraft with a Campini engine. Since VENAR did not have the appropriate production capacity, Campini reached an agreement with Gianni Caproni, owner of Aeroplani Caproni, for financial and production support for the contract.
At the end of 1934, to build aircraft, the Centro Sperimentale Campini experimental center was organized at the Aeroplani Caproni plant in Taliedo, where work began on assembling two prototypes in May 1935. However, due to numerous delays in the delivery of a functional and reliable engine for the VRDK compressor, it was only on July 26, 1940 that S. Campini reported to the main aviation directorate of the DGCA (Direzione Generale delle Costruzioni Aeronautiche) that the two aircraft were ready for testing.
On August 8, test pilot Mario de Bernardi began running tests of the first car at the airfield in Linate, and on August 27, 1940, he took the car into the air for the first time and completed a 10-minute flight. During the flight, a tendency was identified for the aircraft to be pulled into a dive; this required modification of the aircraft's tail unit. A few days later, the pilot suffered a domestic injury, which led to a delay in the test program of several months. The aircraft, designated SS.2 (Campini-Caproni), made its sixth test flight on June 1, 1941, which was observed by the command of the Italian Air Force. During this flight, the compressor drive motor was damaged and was subsequently replaced with a new motor. But the new engine was also damaged during flights on October 19–20.
On November 5, 1941, the aircraft flew at a distance of 475.5 km from Linate to Guidonia with average speed 217 km/h, the passenger was the engineer Peduce, who became the world's first passenger in a jet aircraft. Subsequently, several more flights were carried out in order to study the characteristics of the aircraft, and by the spring of 1942, due to the increasingly deteriorating military situation in Italy, flight tests of the SS.2 aircraft were stopped, and the car was placed in the hangar of the test center in Guidonia, where it was later blown up by the retreating Germans. After the occupation of this area by British troops, the damaged aircraft was examined by representatives of military-technical intelligence and in October 1944 was taken to Farnborough (England).
The second prototype was used primarily for static testing on the ground and was never flown. It survived the war without damage and is now kept in the Milan museum Museo della Scienza Technica.
CC.2 characteristics: crew – 2 people, power plant – 1 x VRDK with compressor drive from the Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC40 PD, wingspan – 14.6 m and its area – 35.5 m2, aircraft length – 12.9 m, height – 4.7 m, empty weight – 3640 kg, take-off weight – 4409 kg, maximum speed – 375 km/h, service ceiling– 4000 m, rate of climb – 6.0 m/s.
In 1942, the Caproni company began developing a high-altitude fighter with a combined power plant. The aircraft, designated Ca 183bis, had an Alfa-Romeo Tifone piston engine (German DB 605 produced under license in Italy) in the nose, driving two three-blade contra-rotating propellers, and a Fiat A.30 PD, installed behind the cockpit and driving rotation of the VRDK compressor located in the rear fuselage. Air for cooling the PD A 30 and powering the VRDK compressor was taken through the upper air intake (behind the canopy) and two side air intakes behind the cabin. However, due to Italy's withdrawal from the war, the project was not implemented.
Characteristics of the Ca 183bis: crew – 1 person, power plant – 1 x PD DB 605 with a power of 1250 hp. With. and one VRDK driven by a PD Fiat A.30 with a power of 700 hp. s., wingspan - 15.0 m, take-off weight - 7502 kg, maximum speed - 740 km/h, range - 2000 km, armament - 1 cannon of 30 mm caliber and 4 cannons of 20 mm caliber.
The Reggiane company (Officine Meccaniche Reggiane S.A.), which became part of the Caproni company in 1935, developed the Re.2005 Sagittario (Sagittarius) propeller-driven fighter with the DB 605 PD. The Re.2005 made its first flight in September 1942 g., deliveries of serial samples began in 1943.
In parallel with this, development began on a modification of the aircraft under the designation Re.2005R, structurally similar to the Ca 183bis aircraft. To the main PD DB 605, a VRDK was added with a compressor drive from an additional PD Fiat A. 20. It was assumed that the Re.2005R would be capable of reaching a speed of 750 km/h at an altitude of 8000 m. However, the project was not implemented due to Italy’s withdrawal from the war.
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Italy is one of the countries with a fairly rich aviation history. The fact remains that it was the Italians who began to use aircraft for combat purposes (1911, Libya, Italo-Turkish war). Currently, the Italian Air Force (official name Aeronautica Militare) is one of the three main armed forces of the state. The organization's personnel are about 43 thousand people, weapons are 470 helicopters and airplanes.
IN organizationally The Italian Air Force is represented by the command of aviation schools, the support command, the command of the air squadron and two commands of the aviation districts in Baria and Milan.
Air Squadron Command
All aviation units, except for training ones, are subordinate to the command of the air squadron.
The main organizational units of the Italian Air Force are:
Stormo (literally meaning “flock”) is an analogue of a regiment.
Gruppo is the same as squadron.
A squadrilla is an analogue of a flight.
The most modern combat aircraft, which are on combat duty in the Italian Air Force, are Typhoon fighters. They are located in three stormos (air regiments): the 4th in Grosseto, the 36th in Gioia del Colle and the 37th in Trapani.
The strike aircraft of the Italian Air Force are the Tornado fighter-bombers, which are in service with the 50th Stormo in Piacenza and the 6th Stormo in Gedi. AMX light combat fighter-bombers are in service with the 32nd Stormo at Amendola and the 51st Stormo at Irstan. The city of Sigonelle is home to the 41st Stormo, which includes a group of base patrol aircraft. Most of the transport aircraft are located in the 46th air brigade (Pisa). The 2nd and 50th Groups of medium C-130J aircraft are located here, as well as the 98th Group of light C-27Js. The 14th Stormo in Pratica di Mare is armed with KC-767 tanker aircraft and R.180 transport aircraft. The 31st Stormo in Ciampino has aircraft for the transport of the highest echelon officials. The 15th Stormo, whose headquarters is in Cervi, unites search and rescue helicopters that are stationed at different airfields in five regions.
Ground-based air defense assets and forces are at the disposal of the 2nd Storm. Subordinate to the command of the air squadron is also aerobatic team“Tricolor Arrows”, which performs on MB.339PAN aircraft.
Aviation Schools Command
Initial training of future military pilots is carried out in the 70th Stormo (Latina), which includes the 207th Group with SF.260EA aircraft.
Basic and advanced training courses for pilots take place at the 61st Stormo in Lecce. The 213th group, which is part of it, has MV.339A jet aircraft at its disposal. In the 212th group, exercises are carried out on MB.339CD aircraft, which have more modern equipment.
Helicopter pilots for the Italian Air Force are trained in the 72nd Stormo (Frosignone). The 208th Group, which is part of it, has at its disposal NH 500E helicopters, which are the basic machine for training flight personnel of naval and army aviation.
Support Command ground units are subordinate (repair, supply, etc.), and Air Operations Command– 2 groups of radar formations (12 aviation regiments).
Modernization of the Italian Air Force fleet
The Italian Air Force is currently completing its purchase of 87 Typhoon fighters.
The AMX and Tornado aircraft are at the stage of modernization; in the future, they are planned to be replaced by the 5th generation F-35 Lightning fighter-bombers. The priority is to purchase 90 of these aircraft: 30 F-35 and 60 F-35A, but their number will most likely be reviewed and reduced. In the near future, a deal should take place for the Italian Air Force to purchase two Israeli G.550 AWACS aircraft on the basis of an exchange for Italian-made M.346 “Master” training aircraft. The Italian Air Force still has few of the latter at its disposal - only 15 units. Obsolete Atlantic patrol aircraft are being replaced with ATR 72ASW aircraft, which have been converted from civilian models. Much attention is paid to updating the fleet of search and rescue helicopters.
The delivery of AW 139 helicopters has been ordered, which should replace the light AB 212, and the heavier AW 101 should replace the HH-3F.
Italian Air Force aircraft fleet
Multi-role fighters:
"Typhoon" F-200/VTF-2000 - 60/11 (25 units ordered).
Fighter-bombers:
AMX/AMX-ET - 43/12.
"Tornado" IDS/ECR - 60/15.
Electronic reconnaissance aircraft:
Patrol aircraft:
ATR72ASW-1 (4 units ordered).
"Atlantic" - 4.
Refuelers:
KS-767 – 4.
Transport aircraft:
Fulcon 50 – 2.
Fulcon 900 – 5.
C-130J/C-130J-30/KC-130J - 5/10/6.
Educational:
M.346 – 3 (12 units ordered).
MB.339A/CD/PAN - 34/29/18.
SF.260 – 30.
Helicopters:
AW139 – 3 (17 units ordered).
AB 212 – 33.
NH500E – 49.
Unmanned aerial vehicles:
The aircraft was produced by Caproni in 1939-1940. It was a single-seat, low-wing, cantilever monoplane with retractable landing gear. The aircraft had a fuselage frame made of steel pipes and wooden wings covered with plywood. A total of 14 cars were produced. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 7.9 m; height – 3 m; wingspan - 11.3 m; wing area – 17.6 m²; empty weight – 1.8 t, take-off weight – 2.2 t; engine - Fiat A. 74 RC.38 with 870 hp; maximum speed – 510 km/h, cruising speed – 414 km/h; practical range – 770 km; practical ceiling – 9,500 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns; crew – 1 person.
The fighter was produced by Fiat in 1932-1935. A total of 176 vehicles were produced, which were also used in Austria, Hungary and China. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length – 7.9 m; height – 2.8 m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 27 m²; empty weight – 1.3 t, take-off weight – 1.9 t; engine - Fiat A.30 RA with a power of 600 hp; rate of climb – 860 m/m; maximum speed – 351 km/h; practical range – 850 km; practical ceiling – 8,350 m; armament - two 7.7 mm SAFAT machine guns; crew – 1 person.
The fighter was produced by Fiat on the basis of the C.R.30. in 1935-1939 It was a single-seat all-metal sesquiplane with an open cockpit and a fixed landing gear. The entire fuselage, except the hood, was covered with canvas. Tail had a frame made of light alloys and linen covering. The tail wheel along with the stand was covered up. The aircraft was produced in the following serial modifications: CR.32 (armed with two 7.69 mm machine guns), CR.32bis (with an A.30RAbis engine and four 7.69 mm machine guns), CR.32ter (armed with two 12.7-mm mm machine guns) and CR.32quater (armed with two 12.7 mm and two 7.69 mm machine guns). A total of 1.3 thousand cars were produced, which were also used in Hungary and Spain. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 7.5 m; height – 2.6 m; the span of the upper wing is 9.5 m, the lower wing is 6.1 m; wing area – 22 m²; empty weight – 1.5 t, take-off weight – 1.9 t; engine - Fiat A.30 RA with a power of 600 hp; rate of climb – 10.5 m/s; maximum speed – 354 km/h, cruising speed – 335 m/h; practical range – 780 km; practical ceiling – 7,700 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns or two 7.69 mm machine guns; bomb load - 100 kg; crew – 1 person.
The fighter was produced by Fiat on the basis of the C.R.32. in 1939-1944 The fuselage of the aircraft had a frame made of steel pipes and duralumin lining over the entire surface. The cantilever keel and stabilizer were all-metal. The non-retractable cantilever-strut landing gear was attached to the lower wing spars. “Pants” were put on the main pillars, and teardrop-shaped fairings were put on the wheels. A total of 1.8 thousand cars were built. The aircraft was used in Belgium and Hungary. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.3 m; height – 3 m; the span of the upper wing is 9.7 m, the lower wing is 6.5 m; wing area – 22.4 m²; empty weight – 1.8 t, take-off weight – 2.3 t; engine - Fiat A. 74 RC.38 with 840 hp; rate of climb – 11.8 m/s; maximum speed – 440 km/h, cruising speed – 340 m/h; practical range – 780 km; practical ceiling – 10,200 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns or 12.7 mm and 7.69 mm machine guns; bomb load - 200 kg; crew – 1 person.
The aircraft was produced by the CMASA workshops and the Fiat Aviazione company in 1937-1942. in two modifications: G.50 and G.50bis. It was an all-metal monoplane fighter with a closed or open cockpit and retractable landing gear. A total of 833 vehicles were built. The aircraft was also used in Spain, Finland and Croatia. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 7.8 m; height – 3.2 m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 18.3 m²; empty weight – 1.9 t, take-off weight – 2.4 t; engine - Fiat A. 74 RC.38 with 840 hp; volume of fuel tanks – 311 l; rate of climb – 13.7 m/s; maximum speed – 470 km/h, cruising speed – 425 km/h; practical range – 670 km; practical ceiling – 10,750 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns; crew – 1 person.
The aircraft was produced by Fiat based on the G.50 in 1943-1944. in two modifications: G.55 and G.55A, which differed in equipment and weapons. It was an all-metal low-wing aircraft with retractable landing gear. A total of 274 cars were produced. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length – 9.4 m; height – 3.1 m; wingspan - 11.9 m; wing area – 21.1 m²; empty weight – 2.6 t, take-off weight – 3.7 t; engine - Daimler-Benz DB.605A/Fiat RA.1050 RC.58 with a power of 1,475 hp; rate of climb - 13.9 m/s; maximum speed – 630 km/h; practical range – 1,200 km; practical ceiling – 12,750 m; armament - three 20-mm MG-151/20 cannons, two 12.7-mm SAFAT machine guns; bomb load - 320 kg; crew – 1 person.
The aircraft was developed by Aeronautica Macchi and was produced in 1939-1942. companies Macchi, Breda and SAI Ambrosini. It was an all-metal low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear and a closed cockpit. The aircraft had a semi-monocoque fuselage with numerous stringers and frames, which provided special strength. A total of 1.2 thousand cars were produced. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.3 m; height – 3.1 m; wingspan - 10.6 m; wing area – 16.8 m²; empty weight – 1.9 t, take-off weight – 2.4 t; engine - Fiat A.74 RC.38 with 870 hp; volume of fuel tanks – 391 l; rate of climb – 15.3 m/s; maximum speed – 504 km/h; practical range – 570 km; practical ceiling – 8,900 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns; bomb load - 150 kg; crew – 1 person.
The aircraft was developed by Aeronautica Macchi based on the MC.200 and was produced in 1941-1943. in five serial modifications, differing in minor improvements. A total of 1.2 thousand cars were produced. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.9 m; height – 3.5 m; wingspan - 10.6 m; wing area – 16.8 m²; empty weight – 2.5 t, take-off weight – 2.9 t; engine - Daimler-Benz DB 601/Alfa Romeo RA1000 RC41-I with a power of 1,175 hp; fuel tank volume – 437 l; rate of climb – 18.1 m/s; maximum speed – 600 km/h, cruising speed – 544 km/h; practical range – 765 km; service ceiling -11,500 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns and two 7.7 mm machine guns; bomb load - 200 kg; crew – 1 person.
The fighter was produced by Aeronautica Macchi based on the MS.202 in 1942-1944. The aircraft was an all-metal monoplane with a closed cockpit and retractable landing gear with a tail wheel. A total of 302 vehicles were built. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.9 m; height – 3 m; wingspan - 10.6 m; wing area – 16.8 m²; empty weight – 2.6 t, take-off weight – 3.9 t; engine - DB605A/ RA.1050 RC.58 with a power of 1,475 hp; maximum speed – 640 km/h; practical range – 950 km; practical ceiling – 11,200 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns and two 7.7 mm machine guns or two 20 mm MG 151 cannons and two 12.7 mm machine guns; bomb load - 320 kg; crew – 1 person.
The fighter was developed by Reggiane and was produced in 1940-1944. It was an all-metal low-wing aircraft with retractable landing gear and a steerable tail wheel. The tail of the all-metal structure had metal sheathing of the keel and fixed parts of the stabilizer and fabric sheathing of the rudders. In Italy, 179 cars were built in the following versions: Re.2000, Re.2000-II and Re.2000-III. 70 vehicles were produced under license in Hungary, and 60 in Sweden. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length – 8 m; height – 3.92m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 20.4 m²; empty weight – 2.1 t, take-off weight – 2.9 t; engine - Piaggio P.XI RC 40 with a power of 985 hp; fuel tank capacity – 640 l; rate of climb – 750 m/m; maximum speed – 530 km/h, cruising speed – 440 km/h; practical range – 1,300 km; service ceiling –11,200 m; armament - two 12.7 mm Breda machine guns; crew – 1 person.
The fighter-bomber was created by the Officine Meccaniche Reggiane company based on the Re.2000 and was produced in 1941-1943. It was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing fighter. The fuselage is an all-metal semi-monocoque made of duralumin; the tail had a fabric covering of the rudders. The landing gear is retractable with a tail wheel. A total of 237 vehicles were produced. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.4 m; height – 3.2 m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 20.4 m²; empty weight – 2.5 t, take-off weight – 3.2 t; engine - Alfa Romeo R.A. 1000 R.C. power 1,175 hp; volume of fuel tanks – 540 l; rate of climb – 16 m/s; maximum speed – 545 km/h; practical range – 1,100 km; practical ceiling –11,000 m; run length – 168 m, run length – 255 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns and two 7.7 mm SAFAT; bomb load - 640 kg; machine gun crew - 1 person.
The aircraft was produced by Officine Meccaniche Reggiane based on the Re.2000 in 1942-1944. It was a single-engine all-metal fighter with a low-wing design. The pilot's cabin was covered with a canopy with sliding side windows. When retracting, the landing gear was rotated 90 degrees and laid flat in the center section. A total of 255 vehicles were produced. The captured planes were used by Germany. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.2 m; height – 3.2 m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 20.4 m²; empty weight – 2.4 t, take-off weight – 3.2 t; engine - Piaggio P.XIX RC 45 with a power of 1,100 hp; volume of fuel tanks – 600 l; rate of climb – 12 m/s; maximum speed – 530 km/h; practical range – 1,100 km; practical ceiling –10,500 m; run length – 168 m, run length – 255 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns and two 7.7 mm SAFAT machine guns; bomb load - 650 kg; crew – 1 person.
The fighter was produced by the Officine Meccaniche Reggiane company on the basis of the Re.2000 in 1943. It was a single-seat, single-engine, all-metal cantilever low-wing aircraft. The landing gear was attached to the front spar and folded hydraulically towards the wing tips. At the same time, the tail wheel was also retracted. A total of 32 cars were built. The captured planes were used by Germany. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.7 m; height – 3.2 m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 20.4 m²; empty weight – 2.6 t, take-off weight – 3.6 t; engine - Fiat RA.1050 RC.58 Tifone with a power of 1,475 hp; volume of fuel tanks – 536 l; rate of climb – 20 m/s; maximum speed – 628 km/h, cruising speed – 515 km/h; practical range – 1,250 km; practical ceiling - 12,000 m; armament - three 20-mm MG-151 cannons and two 12.7-mm SAFAT machine guns; bomb load - 630 kg; machine gun crew - 1 person.
The twin-engine single-seat fighter was produced by Industrie Meccaniche in 1943. It had an all-metal semi-monocoque fuselage with a steel frame covered with duralumin. A total of 75 vehicles were produced. Vehicle performance characteristics: length – 8.8 m; height – 2.9 m; wingspan - 12.5 m; wing area – 23 m²; empty weight – 3.5 t, take-off weight – 5 t; engines - Fiat A.74 RC38 with 840 hp; maximum speed – 501 km/h, cruising speed – 390 km/h; practical range – 1,200 km; service ceiling –7,800 m; armament - two 12.7 mm SAFAT machine guns; crew – 1 person.
S. V. Ivanov
Italian Reggiane fighters in World War II
(War in the Air - 97)
“War in the Air” No. 97, 2002. Periodical popular science publication for members of military history clubs. Editor-compiler Ivanov S.V. With the participation of ARS LLC. License LV No. 35 dated 08.29.97 © Ivanov S.V., 2001. The publication does not contain propaganda or advertising. Printed at the Nota printing house in Beloretsk. st. Soviet. 14 Circulation: 300 copies.
Second prototype of Re.2005. This plane showed maximum speed 720 km/h during tests in April 1943.
Reggiane Re.2000 Falco I
The design of the Re.2000 aircraft began in 1938, when the Italian Ministry of Aviation issued a task to leading aircraft manufacturers to design a single-engine fighter - a monoplane with a star-shaped engine and armament from two Breda-SAFAT machine guns of 12.7 mm caliber. The winner of the competition was to become the main aircraft of the Italian Fighter Aviation.
In addition to well-known companies at that time, the Reggiane company (Officine Meccaniche Italiane-Reggiane), whose plant was located in Reggio Emilia (Northern Italy), also took part in the competition. The company's designers, engineers Roberto Longhi and Antonio Alessio, designed the aircraft, which later became known under the designation Re.2000 Falco I. The name Falco I (Falcon), however, was never officially used, since it coincided with the designation of another fighter - FIAT CR-42 . Roberto Longhi had experience in design work in the USA at Uppercu Burnelli Aircraft Corporation, so the very appearance of the fighter easily captures the features of the Seversky P-35, which was promising at that time.
For the company, work of this kind was innovative, although the plant, which was part of the industrial cartel of Count Gianni Caproni, produced the three-engine S.M.79 under license and had experience in building the record-breaking Ca.405 Procellaria and the P.32bis bomber created by Piaggio. The Italian design school at that time as building material preferred wood and the creation of an all-metal structure was a significant revolutionary step.
In the second half of 1938, construction of the first prototype began. Airplane with serial number The MM408 made its first flight on May 24, 1939, piloted by Mario De Bernardi, a distinguished aviator who won the 1926 Schneider Cup in a Macchi M.39. Subsequent tests were quite successful, so the company received an order from the Italian Air Force to build two more aircraft for flight testing and one airframe for strength testing. After a series of test flights, minor changes were made to the design: the exhaust pipes were modified, the carburetor air intake above the hood was extended, and a propeller spinner was installed. Testing of the first prototype built continued at the Firbara training ground, where the operation of the weapon and its synchronizers was mainly tested.
A series of official competitive test and comparison flights took place in August 1939 at the Guidonia airfield. Prototypes of the Fiat G.50, Macchi M.C.200, Aeronautica Umbra T. 18, Capronni-Vizzola F.5 and Re.2000 fighter aircraft were presented. The design of the Re.2000 was aerodynamically more advanced than that of its predecessors, the Fiat G.50 and Macchi M.C.200, which appeared two years earlier. The flights, carried out mainly by Colonels Quarantotti and Tondi, showed that the Re.2000 was superior in speed, maneuverability, stability and landing characteristics to its competitors - the Macchi MC-200 Saetta and the reference Messerschmitt Bf 109E and FIAT CR-42. During the tests, it turned out that in training battles the Re.2000 turned out to be more maneuverable than the CR-42, which was quite unexpected (at that time, biplanes showed better maneuverability than monoplanes). The 2000 prototype showed a maximum speed of 514.9 km/h at an altitude of 5000 m, reaching an altitude of 6000 m in 6 minutes 23 seconds. The flight range was 1039.6 km and the ceiling was 8000 m. The aircraft, however, clearly lacked a reliable in-line engine with satisfactory power. A significant step forward was achieved with the later Re.2001 thanks to the presence of the German Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine.
However, Re.2000 lost the competition. The reason for the negative decision of the Ministry was the installation of integral fuel tanks in the wing center section, unusual at that time, which were also not protected. Under flight loads, some rivets of the wing's load-bearing structure, and therefore the tanks, weakened, which led to fuel leaks. This was the reason for the negative decision of the Ministry.
The main types of fighters of the Italian air force were the FIAT G-50 and Macchi MC-200 Saetta. However, in August 1939, the Ministry of Aviation ordered Reggiane to produce a series of 200 Re.2000s. In September, construction began on the first 12 aircraft for testing units and preparations were underway for mass production of the remaining aircraft. The order was soon cancelled, and the only fuselage built was later used by the company to build another aircraft with a Piaggio P-XIX engine, which became the prototype of the Re.2002. Negative attitude The ministry did not change even after the designers of the Reggiane plant made changes to the power structure of the wing, making it three-spar (the first-born had a five-spar wing) and placing standard insert tanks in it.
In October 1939, the three-spar wing power design was implemented on the second prototype of the Re.2000, which later became the first example of the Re.2002 dive bomber and attack aircraft.
Despite the fact that official Italian authorities showed no interest in the Re.2000, a buyer was found abroad. In December 1939, a British mission headed by Lord Hardwicke arrived in Italy with the goal of acquiring various aircraft for the RAF. English factories could not ensure the construction of fighters at the required pace, so the army was looking for a foreign supplier. The Re.2000 also came into view, of which 300 were ordered after test flights by mission pilots Gray and Barnett. While Italy had not yet entered the war, a British mission visited the Caproni factories to determine the possibilities for purchasing various equipment. On the aviation side, the British delegation included Colonel H. Thornton from the Air Ministry. The mission was interested in Isotta-Fraschini naval engines, 20-mm anti-aircraft guns, Sa.313 light bombers, Sa.311 training aircraft and Re.2000 fighters. At the end of January 1940, an order was issued for 300 Re.2000 type vehicles. It is surprising to note that the German government expressed its consent to this deal in March 1940, and only revoked its approval a month later. And Italy's entry into the war in June 1940 interrupted negotiations between Lord Hardwicke and Count Caproni, which aimed to circumvent the German ban by selling aircraft “on paper” to Soc, financed by the Portuguese branch of Caproni. Aeroportuguesa and their subsequent transportation to the UK.
About the book: Mustang Fighter. "Air Cadillac"
On March 23, 1923, a third branch appeared in the Italian Armed Forces - the Air Force (Regia Aeronautica), organized on the basis of the Military Aviation Corps (Corpo Aeronautica Militare), which had existed since 1915 as part of the army. This was preceded by two important events: development in 1921 by the Italian general Giulio Douhe of the revolutionary concept of “war of the future”, and the coming to power of the fascists led by Benito Mussolini in 1922. The great power ambitions of the new government became fertile ground for new concept, which provides for achieving victory in an armed conflict solely through aviation. Heavy bomber aircraft enjoyed unconditional priority in the Douai doctrine, as the only one capable of hitting targets in the depths of enemy defenses, while fighters were assigned a supporting role. This was also reflected in the composition of the Regia Aeronauti - it was dominated by bomber units, and the proportion of fighters was much smaller.
As you know, desires do not always coincide with possibilities. This was fully manifested in the recruitment of the Italian Air Force: the financial capabilities of the state did not allow satisfying the wishes of the leadership. Thus, in 1923, 120 military aircraft were produced (of which only 10 were fighters). In 1925, 140 vehicles were produced, but the share of fighters exceeded half and amounted to 80 units. Subsequently, fighters always remained in the minority: in 1927, 200 aircraft (90 fighters) were produced, and in 1928 - 270 (100 fighters). In the early 30s. annual aircraft production decreased even compared to the previous period - Italy experienced a very difficult world economic crisis. When Marshal Italo Balbo left his post as Minister of Aviation in 1933, in his report to Mussolini he spoke of the 3,125 aircraft in service. In fact, only 911 of them were suitable for combat use! Only in 1935 was a noticeable increase in aviation production achieved - 460 aircraft (of which 140 fighters), and subsequently the production volume of combat aircraft constantly increased, reaching 1030 units (220 fighters) in 1939.
The year of publishing: 2012
Pages in the book: 128
Quality: Scanned pages
Format: PDF
File size: 131 MB