Reggiane Re. 2005
| Reggiane Re. 2005 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
May 9, 1942 |
| Commissioning: |
June 1943 |
| Production time: |
September 1942 to May 1944 |
| Number of pieces: |
48 |
The Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Sagittarius) was a single-seat fighter aircraft , which at Reggiane in Italy was manufactured and as all-metal - low-wing aircraft was designed. Together with the Macchi MC.205 and the Fiat G.55 it was part of the so-called "Series 5". These machines had German aircraft engines built under license and had flight characteristics on a par with the Allied fighters.
History and commitment
The development team around Ing. Roberto Longhi began work in 1941. The prototype had an improved structure compared to the previous model Reggiane Re.2002 with elliptical wings, wing tanks and a German V-12 engine DB605A-1 . The engine was lost in transit and was not found until months later. This delayed the first flight , which then took place on May 7, 1942. Despite a belly landing, the official maiden flight followed on May 9, 1942.
The production version received a Fiat RA.1050 RC.58 Tifone , a version of the Daimler-Benz engine built under license.
Italy ordered 18 pre-series machines and 750 series machines with the option of a further 1000 machines. The production should be done by Breda in Milan , Aerfer in Naples and Caproni in Bergamo . However, only 48 (other source 31) machines had been delivered before the armistice with the Allies was concluded. The machines were used by the 362nd Squadron of the 22nd Group in the defense of Naples, Rome and Sicily . The remaining two machines were assigned to the 371st Squadron and destroyed in a bomb attack. The 362nd Squadron flew interceptor missions against Allied heavy bombers with new machines. Some of the pilots reported kills, especially against Spitfire and B-24 ; However, there are no verifiable figures for this.
Germany showed great interest in this model. The second prototype was equipped with a specially supplied DB605A-1 and tested by a German pilot. The aircraft reached 720 km / h at an altitude of 7300 m.
The second prototype ended in Bucharest , Romania . According to unconfirmed reports, combat missions were flown with him there. Eleven pre-series machines were modified in Germany. According to some reports, these flew missions over Berlin at the end of the war .
variants
- Re.2005 LW: prototype, see under history and use.
- Saggittario Bifusoliera: Planned but not realized version with double hull.
- Re.2005R: only project, not realized; Hybrid drive with a Campini jet engine in the rear. This engine was comparable to that of the Campini-Caproni CC2 .
- Re. 2006 Sagittario II : successor prototype with Daimler-Benz DB 603 . Should theoretically reach 740 km / h. A flight is not known.
Military users
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- Luftwaffe some captured machines
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| length | 8.73 m |
| span | 11.00 m |
| height | 3.15 m |
| Wing area | 20.40 m² |
| Empty mass | 2600 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 3560 kg |
| Top speed | 630 km / h at 7000 m |
| Service ceiling | 12,000 m |
| Range | 1100 km |
| Engines | 1 × Fiat RA.1050 RC.58 Tifone with 1475 PS (1100 kW) |
| Armament | 3 × MG 151/20 , two 12.7 mm MG Breda-SAFAT, up to 1000 kg bombs |
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. 3718.
