Reggiane Re.2000

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A Swedish Air Force Re.2000
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A Swedish Air Force Re.2000

The Caproni-Reggiane Re.2000 Falco I was an Italian interceptor/fighter, serving in the Regia Aeronautica, Hungarian Air Force, and Swedish Air Force.

The Re.2000 prototype's first flight was on 24 May 1939, in Reggio Emilia, flown by Mario de Bernardi. It showed a maximum speed of 515 km/h at 5,000 m. This was to be the Reggiane company's first plane with aluminum paneling rather than exclusively wooden structures. Mock dogfights to test the plane against other existing ones found that it could successfully outmaneuver the Fiat CR.32 and the German Bf 109E. The Regia Aeronautica rejected it, however, due to its unreliable engine and vulnerable fuel tanks.

Only five were ever actually included in the Regia Aeronautica, including the prototype. They were organized into the Sezione Sperimentale Reggiane inside the 74a Squadriglia in Sicily. Later it was renamed 377a Squadriglia Autonoma Caccia Terrestre, and received nine further Serie III Re.2000s. It was based in Sicily, and fought on North Africa, Malta and Pantelleria, mainly in the attack role. The last Reggiane aircraft was sent back to the factory in September 1942.

The Regia Marina did experiment with a carrier version (Serie II) of the plane launched by catapult successfully, but the idea was not implemented, the planes used to a limited extent from land bases. Both Serie II and III were equipped with radio, which was not fitted on Serie I.

The aircraft was much more prominent in the Hungarian and Swedish air forces. In fact, eighty percent of Re.2000 production went to one of these two countries, with Hungary ordering 70 and Sweden 60 machines. The United Kingdom government was also interested in the plane, putting an order for 300 Re.2000s, but this was cancelled by Italy's entrance in the war alongside Germany.

Re.2000 Serie I's served in Sweden as the J 20, mainly used to intercept axis and allied bombers crossing over the neutral country. The Re.2000 Serie I also served in Hungary as the Héja (falcon) I and II, II being the same plane with a different engine and Hungarian machine guns. The Hungarians used the planes to fight on the eastern front of World War II.

Contents

[edit] Specifications (Re.2000 Series I)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 26 ft 2.5 in (7.99 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
  • Wing area: 219.59 sq ft (20.4 m²)
  • Empty weight: 4,608 lb (2,090 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 6,283 lb (2,850 kg)
  • Useful load: 2,009 lb (911 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× Piaggio P.XI RC 40 , 986 hp (731 kW)

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: Two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine-guns

[edit] Variants

  • Re.2000
    • Initial prototype, 1 built
  • Re.2000 Serie I
    • Production model, 157 built
    • Windshield modified, slight equipment changes
  • Re.2000 Serie II
    • Ship-borne version, 10 built
    • 1,025 hp Piaggio P.XIbis engine, arrester gear
  • Re.2000 (GA) Serie III
    • Long-range fighter, 12 built
    • redesigned cockpit, increased fuel capacity, option of aux. fuel tank or 4,410 lb (2,000 kg) bomb load
  • Héja I
    • Hungarian designation for Serie I
  • Héja II
    • Hungarian designation for license-produced Serie I
    • 986 hp WMK 14 engine, two Hungarian 12.7 mm Gebauer machine-guns

[edit] Operators

[edit] Sources

  • Punka, George (2001). Reggiane Fighters in action. Carrolton: Squadron Signal Publications. ISBN 0-89747-430-9.

[edit] Related content

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