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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 1830.PDF
Three Macchi C.200 fighters straight off the production line. It is not thought thatmany of these machines are in service. armament, but the engine is the same in each case. The chosen unit is the Fiat A 74 RC 38 14-cylinder two-row radial which has a displacement of about 1,907 cu. in. and an output of 840 h.p. at 2,400 r.p.m. at 12,450 ft. The overall diameter of this engine, which gives a sea-level output ol 870 h.p. at 2,520 r.p.m. is 47.04m and the compression ratio 6.7:1. At maximum power the fuel consump- tion is claimed to be 0.495 lb. per h.p./hr.; the cruising consumption is given as 0.507 lb. per h.p./hr. A constant speed airscrew of Hamilton design and Fiat manufacture is stan- dardised for this engine. Fiat C.R.32 It is the Italian custom to include the designer's initial in the designa- tion ot military aircraft. Thus " C.R.32 " stands for Caccia Rosatelli Model 32. Signor Rosatelli has been responsible for a long line of fighters and single-engined bombers, all of strikingly similar appearance due to the use of Warren girder type inter- plane bracing. The first C.R. fighter appeared in 1923 ; it had a 300 h.p. Hispano engine and was very fast for its time, attaining over 160 m.p.h The C.R.20 of 1926 had a 400 h.p. Fiat and was nearly 10 m.p.h. faster. Four machine guns were fitted. The installation of a more powerful Fiat engine caused the machine to be designated C.R.20 bis. In 1933 the C.R.30 with Fiat A 30R engine ap- peared. This machine did about 230 m p.h. and weighed 4,0401b. The famous C.R.32 apperred about 1934 at about the same time as the experi- mental C.R.40 which had a G home- Rhone K14 radial engine and the top wing on the level of the top longeron. The C.R.33 of 1935 was similar to the 32 but had a Fiat A 33 engine and a speed of 256 m.p.h. Latest addition to the Rosatelli series is the C.R.42 which will be described later. The wings of the C.R.32 are of light alloy and steel with fabric covering, ailerons being fitted to the top wings only. The top wing is in two halves joined at the centre and the lower wings are attached direct to the bottom fuselage longerons. Warren type interplane bracing is used. The fuselage is a normal rectangular light alloy structure with steel fittings, faired with light alloy formers and stringers, the whole structure with the exception of the engine cowling being fabric covered. The tail unit has a fabric covered metal framework; the tailplane is adjustable and rudder and elevators are balanced. The undercarriage is of the divided type with long-stroke oleo legs attached to the top fuselage longerons. Steel tube axles and radius rods are hinged to the centre line of the fuselage underside and the wheels are enclosed in light metal fairings. Hydraulic wheel-brakes are fitted and there is a swivelling tail-wheel. The power plant of the C.R.32 is an unsupercharged Fiat A 30 R. A. twelve- cylinder Ve": water-cooled engine developing 550 h.p. at 9,840ft. The radiator is mounted beneath the engine in the extreme nose of the machine and a tubular oil cooler is incorporated in the top casing. Equipment includes oxygen gear. The Fiat A 74 RC 38 radial (above) is standardised for current Italian fighters. (Right) The Breda SAFAT gun. The type shown has a slotted barrel casing ; other models, most generally used, have circular perforations. FLIGHT, June 27, 1940 ITALIAN SINCLE- SEATERS (CONTINUED) fire extinguisher and electric heating for the pilot. DATA Span . . . . 31ft. 2in. Length 24ft. 5in. Wing area . . . . 237.8 sq. ft. Weight empty .. .. 2,8051b. Disposable lo;.d .. .. 1,1551b. Weight loaded . . . . 3,960 lb. Wing loading . . . . 16.6 Ib./sq. ft. Top speed .. .. 240 m.p.h. Climb to 119,650ft. Service ceiling 11 min.26.200ft. Fiat C.R.42 The Fiat C.R.42 has been developed from the C.R.32, but has a more powerful engine. The wings are built around two duralumin box spars and the ribs are made up from square sec- tion duralumin tubing. Covering is part metal and part fabric. Ailerons, statically and dynamically balanced, are mounted on the top wings only. Warren type interplane strutting is, of course, a feature. The fuselage is a triangulated welded steel tube structure faired to an oval section by means of formers and stringers. The forward portion is covered with metal sheeting and the aft section with fabric. There is a reinforced bulkhead in the nose at the point where the engine mounting is bolted on. This mounting of welded steel tubing is attached to the fuselage by four bolts. The tail unit is a fully cantileve*r metal structure, the fixed surfaces being metal-covered and the movable surfaces fabric-covered. The elevators and rudder are statically and dynamic- ally balanced and trimming tabs are fitted. The fixed undercarriage is of semi- cantilever type, the main legs having F.A.S.T. type oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers. Each leg and wheel is en- closed in a streamlined fairing. A Fiat A 74 RC 38 radial engine is fitted. It drives a Fiat-Hamilton three-bladed constant-speed airscrew and is housed in a Magni cowling. DATA Span 31ft. lOin. Length 27ft. Hin. Disposable load .. .. 1,2701b. Top speed at 13.000ft. . . 270 m.p.h. Climb to 19,500ft. .. 8 min. 40 sec. Service ceiling . . . . 32,600ft Fiat Q.50 The Fiat G.50 is a low-wing mono- plane fighter, designed by Signor Gab- rielli. The wing is built in three parts : a tapering centre section, carrying the optional 7.7 mm. guns and undercar^ riage, and two outer panels. The
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