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Fiat G.50



 
 
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Old October 16th 19, 03:28 PM posted to alt.binaries.pictures.aviation
Miloch
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Default 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
developed and manufactured by aviation company Fiat. Upon entering service, the
type became Italy’s first single-seat, all-metal monoplane that had an enclosed
cockpit and retractable undercarriage. On 26 February 1937, the G.50 conducted
its maiden flight. During 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 relatively fast and very
manoeuvrable in comparison to its adversaries in the theatre.

Early in the Second World War, it was determined that the G.50 possessed
inadequate armament, comprising a pair of Breda-SAFAT 12.7-mm machine guns. The
fighter was extensively used on various fronts by Italy, including in Northern
Europe, North Africa, the Balkans, and the Italian mainland. The G.50 commonly
came up against the British Hawker Hurricane, which was fast enough to
frequently outrun and out-range the Italian opponent. Later models of the
fighter had improvements, including a substantial increase in range.

The G.50 was exported to several overseas customers, small numbers being flown
by the Croatian Air Force while 35 G.50 fighters were shipped to Finland, where
they served with distinction during both the Winter War of 1940 and the
Continuation War of 1941–1944 against the Soviet Union. In Finnish service, the
type reportedly achieved an unprecedented kill/loss ratio of 33/1.

The Fiat G.50 was a low-wing single-engine monoplane fighter interceptor
aircraft. It featured all-metal construction, comprising a semi-monocoque
fuselage with an exterior skin composed of light alloys. The structure of the
fuselage was formed from four main longerons and 17 formers, closing into a
load-bearing bulkhead forming the rear of the fuselage. The wings were divided
into three separate sections, composed of a steel tube centre-section structure
that was paired with duralumin outer wings and an alloy skin. The ailerons,
which were both statically and aerodynamically balanced, had a metal structure
covered by fabric. Hydraulically-actuated four-piece slotted-flaps were fitted
to the aircraft's wings to improve its take-off and landing performance; these
would automatically retract upon attaining a certain airspeed.

The G.50 was equipped with retractable landing gear, consisting of
inwardly-retracting mainwheels and a fixed, castoring tailwheel. It was the
first front-line Italian fighter to be fitted with a retractable undercarriage,
an enclosed cockpit, and a constant speed propeller; these improvements have
been credited with enabling the G.50 to achieve a maximum speed that was 33
kilometres per hour (21 mph) faster than its contemporary, the Fiat CR.42
biplane. According to aviation author Gianni Cattaneo, the G.50 was a "robust
and viceless aircraft which marked the introduction of new concepts and
techniques, of design and manufacture".

Powered by a single Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled supercharged radial
engine, rated at 870 hp (650 kW) for take-off and 960 hp (720 kW) at 3,800 m
(12,500 ft), enclosed in a NACA cowling and mounted upon a chrome-molybdenum
steel tubular structure attacheded with flexible mounts. Access for maintenance
of the engine was provided via large cowling doors and panels on the fuselage
aft of the firewall gave access for fuel tanks and armament. The engine
incorporated a reduction gear which drove the Hamiliton-Fiat 3-bladed all-metal
constant speed propeller.


Role
Fighter aircraft

Manufacturer
Fiat

Designer
Giuseppe Gabrielli

First flight
26 February 1937

Introduction
1938

Retired
1946 Finnish Air Force

Status
Retired

Primary users
Regia Aeronautica
Finnish Air Force
Ejército del Aire
Luftwaffe

Produced
1935–1943

Number built
683 + 5 prototypes

Variants
Fiat G.55

During 1938, the first operational Fiat G.50 fighters were delivered to the
Regia Aeronautica. During the Spanish Civil War, about a dozen G.50s were
dispatched to Spain to reinforce the Aviazione Legionaria, Italy's contribution
to the conflict. The first of these were delivered to the theatre during January
1939. The value of its presence in the Spanish theatre is questionable as none
of the fighters sent saw actual combat. At the civil war's end, the G.50s in the
region were handed over to Spanish pilots and subsequently saw action in
Morocco. Cattaneo summarised of the experience: "Little seems to have been
learnt as nothing was done to increase the armament".

Upon the G.50's entry to service, it was widely regarded as being an extremely
manoeuvrable aircraft and was often considered to be one of Italy's best
fighters. However, by the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, rapid
advancements in the field of aviation had contributed to be type being
considered to be both underpowered and underarmed in comparison to competing
frontline fighters then in use by the main powers. In spite of this, in the
buildup to the Second World War, further units of the Regia Aeronautica were
equipped with newly delivered G.50s; these were heavily used in various
exercises and war-games from November 1939 onwards as it became increasingly
clear that Italy would likely soon be at war with the Western democracies.

Upon Italy's entry into the Second World War in June 1940, the Regia Aeronautica
possessed a total of 118 G.50s that were available for operations; of these, 97
aircraft were available to perform front line duties while others were either in
maintenance or awaiting delivery. The majority of these were assigned to 51°
Stormo, (group) which was based at Ciampino Airport (just outside Rome) and at
Pontedera, with 22° Gruppo (wing) of 52° Stormo. On 10 June 1940, when Italy
issued its declaration of war against both France and Great Britain, the G.50s
of 22° Gruppo went into action, followed by the 48 aircraft of 20° Gruppo.
Operations during the first few days were sporadic and varied, often serving as
escorts for Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers on attack missions against harbours
and airfields on the island of Corsica. These operations were quickly brought to
an end when France signed the Armistice of 22 June 1940, officially capitulating
to the Axis powers.

Specifications (G.50)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 8.01 m (26 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 10.99 m (36 ft 1 in)
Height: 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 18.25 m2 (196.4 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,963 kg (4,328 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,402 kg (5,296 lb)
Powerplant: × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 649
kW (870 hp) for take off
720 kW (966 hp) at 3,800 m (12,467 ft)Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton
Standard-Fiat constant-speed propeller

Performance
Maximum speed: 470 km/h (290 mph, 250 kn) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
Range: 445 km (277 mi, 240 nmi)
Service ceiling: 10,700 m (35,100 ft)
Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 6 minutes 3 seconds

Armament

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




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