Fiat G.50

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_G.50

The Fiat G.50 Freccia ("Arrow") was a World War II Italian fighter aircraft.
First flown in February 1937, the G.50 was Italy’s first single-seat, all-metal
monoplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable undercarriage to go into
production. In early 1938, the Freccias served in the Regia Aeronautica (the
Italian Air Force), and with its expeditionary arm, the Aviazione Legionaria, in
Spain, where they proved to be fast and, as with most Italian designs, very
manoeuvrable. However, it had inadequate weaponry (two Breda-SAFAT 12.7-mm
machine guns). The Fiat G.50 was also used in small numbers by the Croatian Air
Force and 35 were shipped to Finland, where they served with distinction, with
an unprecedented kill/loss ratio of 33/1.

The Fiat G.50 was designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, who started planning a
single-engined monoplane fighter in April 1935. Work began on two prototypes in
mid-summer 1936, construction was entrusted to the workshops of the CMASA
(Costruzioni Meccaniche Aeronautiche S.A.), a subsidiary of Fiat at Marina di
Pisa. Comandante Giovanni de Briganti, the chief test pilot of the G.50 program,
flew the first prototype on 26 February 1937 from Caselle airfield, Turin,
reaching a top speed of 472 kilometres per hour (255 kn; 293 mph) and climbing
to 6,000 metres (19,700 ft) meters in six minutes, 40 seconds.

The G.50 was a low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, with a
semi-monocoque fuselage with light alloy skinning, while the wings had a steel
tube centre-section structure with duralumin outer wings and alloy skins. Flaps
were fitted to the aircraft's wings to improve its take-off and landing
performance. The powerplant was a single Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled
radial engine, rated at 870 hp (650 kW) for take-off and 960 hp (720 kW) at
3,000 m (9,800 ft) enclosed in a NACA cowling and driving a three-bladed
constant speed propeller. The pilot sat in an enclosed cockpit under a sliding
transparent canopy. He was provided with a reflector sight to aim the fighter's
armament of two 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns with 300 rounds of
ammunition per gun fitted ahead of the cockpit, synchronised to fire through the
propeller. The aircraft was fitted with a retractable landing gear, with the
mainwheels retracting inwards and a castoring tailwheel. It was the first front
line Italian monoplane fighter with a retractable undercarriage, an enclosed
cockpit and a constant speed propeller; these improvements gave it a maximum
speed that was 33 km/h (21 mph) faster than its contemporary, the Fiat CR.42
biplane.


Role
Fighter aircraft

Manufacturer
Fiat

Designer
Giuseppe Gabrielli

First flight
26 February 1937

Introduction
1938

Retired
1946 Finnish Air Force

Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Finnish Air Force
Ejército del Aire
Luftwaffe

Produed
1935–1943

Number built
683 + 5 prototypes

The first operational Fiat G.50 aircraft were delivered to the Regia Aeronautica
in 1938. During the Spanish Civil War, about a dozen G.50s were sent to Spain to
reinforce the Aviazione Legionaria. The type proved extremely maneuverable and
one of Italy's best fighters, yet by the time World War II began, it was
considered underpowered and underarmed.

There were 118 G.50s available when Italy entered World War II. A total of 97
aircraft were available for front line duties. Most were assigned to 51° Stormo
(group) based at Ciampino Airport (just outside Rome) and at Pontedera, with 22°
Gruppo (wing) of 52° Stormo. On 10 June 1940, when Italy declared war against
France and Great Britain, G.50s of 22° Gruppo went into action, followed by the
48 aircraft of 20° Gruppo.

The experiences of the early G.50s over Britain showed their inadequacies. Their
operations were almost useless in the campaign, because they were too
short-ranged and stationed too far from enemy territory. The G.50s had limited
endurance, and missions rarely exceeded one hour. The G.50 bis with its larger
fuel tanks was already in production, but it was not sent to 20° Gruppo in time.
Performance was also lacking: when 22 Fiat G.50s intercepted several Hawker
Hurricanes on 5 November 1940, the RAF fighters easily escaped. On 21 November,
when a Bristol Blenheim attacked the Maldegem airfield, two G.50s scrambled, but
they lost the bomber in the clouds. On 23 November, G.50s followed four
Hurricanes, but could not close on them. Another fruitless intercept took place
on 31 January 1941, when G.50s lost a Blenheim that escaped into the clouds.

Specifications (G.50)

General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 8.01 m (26 ft 3?1/3 in)
Wingspan: 10.99 m (36 ft 0?3/4 in)
Height: 3.28 m (10 ft 9?1/8 in)
Wing area: 18.25 m² (196.5 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,963 kg (4,328 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,402 kg (5,295 lb)
Powerplant: One × Fiat A.74 RC38 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 649 kW
(870 hp) (take off) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 470 km/h (254 knots, 292 mph) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Range: 445 km (240 nmi, 276 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,700 m (35,105 ft)
Climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft): 6.05 min

Armament

Guns: 2 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns





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