Fiat G.55
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The Fiat G.55 Centauro (Italian: "Centaur") was a single engine single seat WW2 Fighter used by the Italian Air Force from 1943-1945.
By early 1943 increased allied bombing raids over Italy showed that there was no suitable high altitude fighter to deal with them effectively. The Macchi C.202s performance decreased above 8,000 m (25,000 ft), the typical altitude of the bombers and the MC.202s armament of 2x12.7 mm machine guns was hardly adequate to bring down the large US bombers. Of the series 5 fighters (Re.2005, Mc.205, Fiat G.55) the Centauro, designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, showed the best high altitude performance due to its large wing surface area. Also its powerful armament of 2x12.7 mm machine guns and 3x20 mm cannon was sufficient to bring down the US bombers. Also the G.55 had 250 rounds of 20 mm ammunition in the middle cannon as opposed to 120 rounds in the Re. 2005.
The first prototype flew on April 30, 1942. Around 130 Centauro were produced, most of them seeing service with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana in northern Italy. After suffering repeated bombing attacks on the Turin Fiat's production plant in northern Italy, supplies of the Fiat G.55 dwindled and eventually all Italian fighter squadrons in Italy were intended to be equipped with the Me 109G. Italian pilots however tended to avoid the substitution of the G55 with a plane that they considered inferior. For this, the production of G55 and spare parts never ceased and, when the allies reached Fiat factory, they found 19 planes ready to be delivered and enough spare parts to build several others. The Germans were very interested in producing the G.55 for themselves but the labor cost and manpower hours was too great. A Fiat G.55 took 9,000 man hours to produce where it only took 5,000 man hours to produce a Me 109.
After the end of the conflict Fiat started the production of G.55A, a fighter/advanced trainer whose first prototype flew on September 5, 1946. The Aeronautica Militare Italiana acquired 19 and Argentine Air Force 30, of which 19 later sold to Egypt. The G.55B was a two-seat advanced trainer, acquired in 10 units by the Aeronautica Militare and in 15 units by Argentina.
[edit] Fiat G.56
The Fiat G.56 was basically a Fiat G.55 with a German Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine. Two prototypes were built, flight tests starting in the spring of 1944.
Maximum speed was 685 km/h and the aircraft was armed with 3 German 20 mm cannons, 1 firing through the propellor hub, the other two installed in the wings.
[edit] Specifications (G.55)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 9.37 m (30 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 11.85 m (38 ft 10 in)
- Height: 3.13 m (10 ft 3 1/4 in)
- Wing area: 21.11 m² (227.23 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,630 kg (5,798 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,718 kg (8,179 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Fiat R.A 1050 Tifone (license-built Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1) liquid-cooled inverted V-12, 1,085 kW (1,475 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 620 km/h (385 mph)
- Range: 1,160 km (746 miles)
- Service ceiling: 12,700 m (42,650 ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)
Armament
- 3x20 mm Mg 151/20 cannons, one engine-mounted and two wing-mounted
- 4x12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
- Provision for two 160 kg (353 lb) bombs on underwing racks
[edit] Operators
[edit] References
- Ali D'Italia # 10 - Fiat G.55 - Gregory Alegi
- Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1935-1943 - Johnatan Thompson
- I caccia della serie 5, Re2005, Mc205, Fiat G.G5 - Nino Arena
- Pictorial History of the Regia Aeronautica Vol.2 - Di Amico/Valentini
- Air War Italy, axis air forces from liberation of Rome to the surrender - Di Amico/Valentini
- Axis Aircraft of World War II, by David Monday
[edit] Related content
Comparable aircraft
Macchi C.205 - Reggiane Re.2005 - Me 109G - P-51B Mustang
