Reggiane Re. 2000
| Reggiane Re. 2000 | |
|---|---|
 Reggiane Re.2000 Falco I of the Swedish Air Force, the only example still preserved today |
|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
May 24, 1939 |
| Commissioning: |
1939 |
| Number of pieces: |
approx. 200 |
The Reggiane Re.2000 Falco is a single-seat fighter aircraft that was manufactured by Reggiane in Italy . The machine, made entirely of aluminum, has a retractable rear wheel chassis. It was powered by a 14-cylinder double radial engine.
History and commitment
Antonio Alessio and Roberto Longhi designed the single-seat fighter plane in 1937. Longhi had returned from employment in the United States two years earlier. There he was heavily influenced by American airplanes. The Re.2000 was based on the American Seversky P-35 with a beefy short radial engine in contrast to the contemporary Italian fighter planes. The first flight of the prototype with the marking MM.408 took place on May 24, 1939.
In contrast to earlier Italian fighter aircraft developments, as with the Macchi C.200 , great importance was attached to high speed. In spite of everything, the maneuverability was also good. The main disadvantage of the machine was the relatively light armament of only two machine guns that shot through the propeller circle. Due to the low wing loading , the risk of spin was low.
The Regia Aeronautica initially showed no interest, but Reggiane built twelve Re.2000 Series II fighters, reinforced especially for catapult launches, and 24 Series III long-range fighters with increased tank capacity for the Italian Navy.
Foreign countries became aware of the machine. Great Britain ordered 300 machines for use in the Middle East. However, due to Italy's entry into the war, the orders were canceled. Hungary ordered 70 machines that were to be manufactured under license from MÁVAG and, as Hejja, were equipped with a MW 14B engine, a license from Gnôme et Rhône 14K. A heavily modified variant, the Hejja II, was also produced in Hungary . A total of around 200 machines were manufactured. On November 28, 1940, the Swedish Air Force ordered 60 aircraft of the Reggiane Re.2000 Falco 1 variant and used the aircraft between 1941 and 1945 with the F10 squadron as the J 20.
The production rate of the machine was initially low, as the production plant near Turin was effectively bombed by the British Air Force in 1941. A total of 158 aircraft were produced, 28 of which were delivered to the Italian Navy and converted into catapult launch aircraft.
The machines were initially used by the Regia Aeronautica as escort fighters for bombers, then for occasional nuisance attacks on Malta , before being used on the Eastern Front in 1941 until they were replaced by better, German fighter planes.
The Re.2000 was first developed into the Reggiane Re.2001 equipped with a V12 cylinder , then the Reggiane Re.2002 again equipped with a radial engine and finally the Reggiane Re.2005 again equipped with a V12 engine . One machine was converted to the Reggiane Re . 2003 reconnaissance aircraft .
Military users
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Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| length | 7.99 m |
| span | 11.00 m |
| height | 3.13 m |
| Wing area | 20.60 m² |
| Empty weight | 2190 kg |
| Max. Takeoff weight | 3050 kg |
| Cruising speed | 440 km / h |
| Top speed | 520 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 11,200 m |
| Range | 950 km |
| Engines | 1 × Piaggio P.XI with 765 kW |
| Armament | 2 × 12.7 mm MG, 200 kg bombs on suspension points |
See also
literature
- George Punka: Reggiane Fighters in action (= Aircraft. No. 177). Squadron / Signal Publications, Carrollton TX 2001, ISBN 0-89747-430-9 .
- Aero. Issue 133, 1986, ZDB -ID 1004579-x , p. 3717.
