Macchi C.202 Folgore1444 viewswas a World War II fighter aircraft built by Macchi Aeronautica and operated by the Regia Aeronautica (RA; Royal (Italian) Air Force). Macchi aircraft designed by Mario Castoldi received the "C" letter in their model designation, hence the Folgore is referred to as the MC.202. Considered one of the most beautiful fighters to fly with wartime Axis forces, the C.202 was a development of the earlier C.200 Saetta, with a more powerful German Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine and with an extremely streamlined fuselage.[1] Undoubtedly the best wartime fighter to serve in large numbers with the Regia Aeronautica,[2] the Folgore operated on all fronts.[3]
The Folgore went into service with the Regia Aeronautica in July 1941 and immediately proved to be an effective and deadly dogfighter.[4][5] The Australian ace Clive Caldwell, who fought a wide variety of German, Italian and Japanese fighters during 1941–45, later stated that the C.202 was "one of the best and most undervalued of fighters".
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AL12P1029 views
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z506-01843 views
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Caproni Ca.111812 viewsUtilized in the colonies in Africa for postal transportation. Internal structure covered in wood. Single-engined development of the Ca.101, used mainly as utility transport. Some had float landing gear. 149 built.
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Caproni Ca 133786 viewsThe Ca 133 was modernised version of the Ca 101, cleaned up aerodynamically and given improved engines in an attempt to prolong the type's career as an 16 passenger airliner and second line or "colonial" bomber and transport. Bomber aircraft deployed as military transports, with an interior fitted out to accommodate 18 fully equipped troops, were redesignated Ca i33T and, similarly, conversions for use in an ambulance role were designated Ca 133S. In 1938 a small number of an improved version of the Ca 133 was introduced under the designation Ca 148, serving initially in East Africa, and some survived to fly with the post-war Italian air force.
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CANT Z 511 Long Range Hydroplane784 viewsThe Cantz 511 Long Range Cargo Hydroplane was first designed by Fillipo Zappata. The first flight took place in Monfalcone (Trieste, north-eastern Italy) in October 1940. It's first operational start took place in February 1942 (Italian territory). On January 1942, the hydroplane had to be employed on different long range routes, as the war against the United States prevented the civil use of CANTZ511 in the Atlantic area. Some had the odd idea of a spectacular mission in the skies of New York, launching one ton of tri-coloured leaflets. Some others thought about a non-stop Rome-Buenos Aires raid (8000 km!). None of these projects was carried out. And it was a real pity, as the test pilot Mario Stoppani - between the end of February and the beginning of March 1942, during the last trials - succeeded in taking off and landing (full loaded) with very rough sea, with 1.5 metres high waves and winds blowing at 55-65 kmh.
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CANT Z 1018 Leone777 viewsIt was clear from the beginning of the flight test program that the performance of the Leone was so high that a production order was certain. This materialized in 1941 in the form of a contract for 300 aircraft to be powered by two Alfa Romeo 135 RC.32 or Piaggio P.XII RC.35 engines, depending on availability. In the event that the Alfa Romeo radial engine was available in larger quantities, and production started in 1943 with a powerplant of two such engines. By the time of the Italian armistace in 9/43 however, deliveries had reached only 10 pre-production and five production warplanes, and a few of these machines saw limited service with the 101st Bombardment Group. Such was the potential of the basic design that two important derivatives were proposed. The first of these was a heavy fighter was a fixed forward armament of 7 20mm cannon as well as a defensive outfit based on three 12.7mm trainable machine guns. The second was a night-fighter with German Lichtenstein SN-2 radar with the antenna in the nose.
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breda Ba.201712 viewsSingle-seat dive bomber. The Ba.201 was a clean low-wing monoplane with an inverted gull wing. It was highly praised by test pilots, except for a disappointing maximum speed. But all available Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines were to be used for fighters, and the Ba.201 was abandoned. Two built.
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Caproni Ca.316710 viewsship-borne maritime reconnaissance float aircraft, Catapult reconnaissance seaplane version of the Ca.309 series. 14 built.
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Caproni Ca.101708 viewsThis light bomber for 'colonial' warfare was used in the invasion of Ethiopia. It was a larger development of the Ca.97.
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Savoia Marchetti S55 01661 views
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Caproni Ca 135645 viewsThe prototype made its first flight in 4/35 powered by two 800 hp Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC Vee engines and driving a wooden two-bladed propeller. The propeller was soon exchanged for a three-bladed metal propeller subsequently accepted for all production versions. The Italian air force felt the Ca.135 had potential and in 1936 ordered 14 examples of the Ca.135 Tipo Spagna (Spanish model), presumably as it was intended to undertake an operational evaluation in the Spanish Civil War. However, none of the aircraft served with the Italian air force in Spain. Trials revealed that the Fiat engines were unreliable and failed to improve performance as significantly as the Piaggio engines, so the few Fiat powered bombers were withdrawn from front-line service and transferred to bomber schools. Thus production of the Ca.135/P.XI was undertaken for a sole export customer, which was the Hungarian air force that received 100 of the type in 1939 and 1940. These aircraft operated with limited success against the Soviets.
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