Macchi MC.200
| Macchi MC.200 Saetta | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 24, 1937 |
| Commissioning: |
1939 |
| Number of pieces: |
1153 |
The Macchi MC.200 Saetta (Blitz) was a single-engine, single-seat Italian fighter aircraft during World War II .
history
Chief Engineer Dr. Mario Castoldi designed this type in 1936 as the result of a series of racing aircraft designs (including the well-known record-breaking Macchi MC.72 ) to replace the outdated biplanes such as CR.32 or CR.42 .
The MC.200 was constructed in an all-metal shell construction, the low -wing aircraft , like the tail unit, was cantilevered and the entire rear wheel landing gear was retractable. The first prototype flew for the first time on December 24, 1937 and was equipped with a closed cockpit. However, since open cockpits were more appealing to the Italian pilots, later series machines were built according to this request, and glazed side flaps were also installed on other models. In a comparison flight carried out in 1938, the Saetta prevailed, whereupon a first order for 99 aircraft was placed. From October 1939 the delivery to the Regia Aeronautica began , so that Italy had 156 MC.200 at the start of the war, which were divided into three groups of fighter pilots. The first mission took place in the fall of 1940 to provide cover for on Malta scheduled bombers .
The MC.200 Saetta was a carefully designed machine that had good flight characteristics and excellent maneuverability. With its light armament and the relatively weak radial engine that offered too much air resistance due to its design , it did not achieve the performance of modern fighters from other countries. It was used in Greece, North Africa, Yugoslavia and from 1940/41 also on the Eastern Front. After the surrender of Italy in September 1943, 23 copies were used in the Aeronautica Cobelligerante Italiana on the side of the Allies .
A total of 1153 units of this type were produced.
The much improved successor was the MC.202 Folgore , equipped with a Daimler-Benz DB 601 V12 engine built under license by Alfa Romeo , which was used from November 1941.
Versions
| designation | features |
|---|---|
| MC.200, prototype | two pieces with Fiat engines A.74-RC 38 |
| MC.200 | Series version with a more powerful A.74-RC 38 motor and different cockpits (closed, open or half-closed) |
| MC.200 AS | Tropical version for use in North Africa |
| MC.200 CB | Fighter- bomber version with reinforced wings for transporting a maximum of 320 kg bombs or additional tanks at outstations under the wings |
| MC.201 | Type with a modified fuselage and (the intended) A.76 RC-40 engine, but was only tested with A.74 RC 38, the development was in favor of MC.202 set |
Military use
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- Air Force : some captured machines
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| length | 8.19 m |
| span | 10.58 m |
| height | 3.5 m |
| Wing area | 16.8 m² |
| Wing extension | 6.6 |
| Empty mass | 1895 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 2590 kg |
| Cruising speed | 455 km / h |
| Top speed | 502 km / h |
| Landing speed | 125 km / h |
| Climb performance | 20.3 m / s |
| Service ceiling | 8900 m |
| Range | 870 km with fuel reserves |
| Engines | 1 × radial engine Fiat-A.74-RC 38 with 649 kW (882 PS) |
| Armament | 2 rigid 12.7 mm machine guns in the bonnet 2 rigid 7.7 mm machine guns (only on some later MC.200) |
Received aircraft
An airplane is on display in the Italian Aviation Museum Vigna di Valle .
See also
literature
- Giorgio Bignozzi: Aerei d'Italia. Milano Edizioni ECA, Milan 2000. (Italian)
- John F. Brindley: Caproni Reggiane Re 2001 Falco II, Re 2002 Ariete & Re 2005 Sagittario. In: Aircraft in Profile. Vol. 13, Profile Publications, Berkshire 1973, ISBN 0-85383-022-3 .
- Gianni Cattaneo: The Macchi MC.200. In: Aircraft in Profile. Vol. 64, Profile Publications, London 1966.
- Italo De Marchi, Pietro Tonizzo: Macchi MC. 200 / FIAT CR. 32. Edizioni Stem Mucchi, Modena 1994 (Italian).
- Maurizio Di Terlizzi: Macchi MC 200 Saetta. pt. 1. In: Aviolibri Special 5. Rome 2001. (Italian, English)
- Maurizio Di Terlizzi: Macchi MC 200 Saetta. pt. 2. In. Aviolibri Special 9. Rome 2004. (Italian, English)
- Jeffrey L. Ethell: Aircraft of World War II. HarperCollins / Jane's, Glasgow 1995, ISBN 0-00-470849-0 .
- William Green: The Macchi-Castoldi Series. Famous Fighters of the Second World War-2. Macdonald, London 1957 (reprinted 1962, 1975, ISBN 0-356-08334-9 ).
- Nicola Malizia: Aermacchi, Bagliori di guerra (Macchi MC.200 - MC.202 - MC.205 / V). Rome 2006 (Italian).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Wilfried Copenhagen , Jochen K. Beeck: The large aircraft type book . Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-613-02522-1 , p. 305 .
- ↑ Peter Alles-Fernandez (Ed.): Aircraft from A to Z. Volume 3 : Koolhoven FK 56 – Zmaj . Bernard & Graefe, Koblenz 1989, ISBN 3-7637-5906-9 , pp. 71 .
- ^ Aeronautica Militare: Museo Storico di Vigna di Valle. In: Macchi MC.200 "Saetta". Ministero della Difesa, accessed November 22, 2017 (Italian).