Caproni Ca 135643 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and failed to improve performance as significantly as the Piaggio engines, so the few Fiat powered bombers were withdrawn from front-line service and transferred to bomber schools.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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savoia Marchetti SM82 Canguru638 views
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Fiat CR-32 Escuadrilla Blanco X Grupo de Caza Autonomo Baleari632 viewsFiat CR-32 Escuadrilla Blanco X Grupo de Caza Autonomo Baleari , one of the skins included with 3 models and 11 liveries on sale at:
http://www.icarusgold.com/cr32.htm
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Breda Ba.27629 viewsLow-wing fighter monoplane, with struts and bracing wires, an open cockpit and fixed landing gear. The original mixed construction version was unsatisfactory. It was completely redesigned with an all-metal construction. It was still rejected by the Italian air force, but 11 were built for China.
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Blohm und Voss BV 138626 viewsThe first prototype which was ready in July 1937 had seveare problems in the air and on the water. A general re-design of the construction followed. Some BV 138 A's were used as transporters for the norwegian campaign in 1940, but late in June 1941 the BV 138 B's saw their service in the role they were constructed for, as sea-reconnaissance planes. From then on they patroled the North-sea and the Arctic-sea and shadowed the well known North-Cape convoys.
The version BV 138 MS was equipped with a mine-sweeping gear and the BV 138 C-1 which was equipped with Radar saw service in anti U-boat attacks.
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Caproni Ca.309612 viewsSmall twin-engined reconnaissance bomber. The Ca.309 was a low-wing monoplane of mixed construction and with fixed landing gear. 243 were built.
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Fiat CR-32 Chinese Air Force600 viewsFiat CR-32 Chinese Air Force, one of the skins included with 3 models and 11 liveries on sale at:
http://www.icarusgold.com/cr32.htm
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Heinkel He 162598 viewsThe Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger was the second jet engined fighter aircraft to be fielded by the Luftwaffe in WWII. It is know primarily for a series of spectacular disasters during testing. Nevertheless the ambitious production program continued and 300 were complete by the war's end, with another 100 ready for delivery. Only one gruppen had completely re-formed with the He 162 in late April, and they claimed two or three planes in combat before their base was taken over by the British in early May.
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Blohm und Voss BV 141586 viewsThe Bv-141 was a very unusual, asymmetric aircraft. The configuration was adopted to give excellent all-round view from a single-engine aircraft. An extensively glazed nacelle was fitted to the left of a slender tail boom. The Bv-141A (with symmetrical tailplane) was an excellent aircraft but the RLM rejected it as underpowered. The more powerful Bv-141B (with asymmetrical tailplane) had some handling problems. Both types had hydraulic problems.
Its first flight, on 25 February 1938, proved the Bv-141 to be more airworthy than its detractors wanted to believe. Over the next two years three Bv-141A prototypes and 10 Bv-141B production aircraft were completed, but the poor bird never shook the stigma of its disfigured appearance and the Folke Wulf Fw-189A was the winner of the contract.
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Arado Ar 96574 viewsAdvanced trainer monoplane. At least 11546 built during WWII, and production continued in Czechoslovakia until 1948.
Type: Ar 96B-5
Function: trainer / liaison
Year: Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 360kW Argus As 10MA-1
Speed: 330km/h Ceiling: 7000m Range: 990km
Armament: 1*mg7.9mm
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Fiat CR-32 belchite republican captured 1937561 viewsFiat CR-32 belchite republican captured 1937, one of the skins included with 3 models and 11 liveries on sale at:
http://www.icarusgold.com/cr32.htm
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Messerschmitt Bf110549 viewsWilly Messerschmitt however made a creditable attempt with the Bf110, resulting in a machine at that time faster than the Bf109 and similar in speed to the Hawker Hurricane, (end of 1936).
The Bf110 was also tried as a bomber and a night fighter, the latter being its more successful role.
But it must be said that long range, speed, and manoeuvrability, are not mutually compatible and the Bf110 never was more than a maid of all work.
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