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Caproni Ca 133778 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 Hydroplane778 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 Leone768 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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Messerschmidt Me 410 Hornisse708 viewsThe Me 410, was an improvement of the Me 210 proposed as a high altitude fighter/bomber with two DB 603A engines (1750 hp), wing edge slats, a presurized cabine, lengthened engine nacelles and no sweep back on the wings. The Me 410 was waited everywhere in all fronts by 1943 and arrived too late. When it finally arrived, it was usually limited to the role of high-speed bomber or reconnaissance. The Hornisse was more successful in Observation units 1 and 7 than in the interceptor role.
The first prototype V1 was ready by the end of 1942. The entire test program envolved some twenty test planes many of which were modified Me 210s. The armament was the same as in the Me 210.
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Focke-Wulf Fw 58706 viewsThe Focke-Wulf Fw 58 was an excellent aircraft. It made its first flight in 1935 as a six-seat light transport. The prototype, Fw 58 V1, first flew in 1935 as a six-seater transport. The second prototype was in military guise, having machine guns fitted both in the nose and dorsally. The next production run was of the Fw 58B, some of which were bombers and some others being fitted with floats - the Fw 58BW. The main production model was the Fw 58C, a light transport. Eight were delivered to Lufthansa during 1938/9 as commercial transports.
Large numbers of bothe Fw 58Bs and Fw 58Cs were used by the Luftwaffe being used for light transport, communications and ambulance duties in large numbers even, on occasions, for crop spraying.
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breda Ba.201706 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.316706 viewsship-borne maritime reconnaissance float aircraft, Catapult reconnaissance seaplane version of the Ca.309 series. 14 built.
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Caproni Ca.101702 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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Messerschmitt Me 323680 viewsA powered derivative of the Me 321, the Me 323 proved to be a successful aircraft. Several variants were produced including a Gunship and bomber. This vulnerable transport suffered heavily at the guns of Allied fighters. This version also carried several tonnes of armor and bulletproof glass. Eventually it was decided that escort fighters would be more effective and this version did not see wide-spread production.
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Avro Anson Mk II665 viewsThe Anson first flew in 1935 and went on to serve in a wide variety of roles during the Second World War. Over 11 000 were built and the Anson was still flying for the Royal Air Force in 1968. Anson II's were used primarily to train pilots to fly multi-engined aircraft such as the Lancaster. However wireless operators, navigators, and bomb-aimers used the Anson as well. As a training aircraft the Anson was docile, forgiving, and easy to fly.
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Savoia Marchetti S55 01656 views
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Heinkel He 176644 viewswas the world’s first aircraft to be propelled solely by a liquid-fuelled rocket, making its first powered flight on July 20 1939 with Erich Warsitz at the controls. The He 176 was built to utilise one of the new Walter engines. It was a tiny, simple aircraft, built almost entirely out of wood and lacking even an enclosed canopy. It had a conventional, fixed, tricycle undercarriage, but relied on the weight of the pilot to actually rest on its wheels. Empty, the tail of the plane rested on the ground. Heinkel demonstrated the aircraft to the RLM, but official disinterest led to the abandonment of the company's rocket propulsion programme. The He 176 was placed in the Deutsches Technikmuseum ("German Technical Museum") in Berlin, where it was destroyed in an air raid during World War II.
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