Aeronautica Umbra Trojani AUT.18

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The AUT.18 was a prototype fighter aircraft developed in Italy by Aeronautica Umbra shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It was designed in 1934 by Ing Felice Trojani , who at that time was collaborating with Umberto Nobile on the Arctic flights of the airships Norge and Italia. The aircraft's designation came from initials of the manufacturer, the surname of the designer, and the aircraft's wing area (18 m²).

The fighter had an all-metal structure, covered in duralumin. It featured inwardly-retracting undercarriage, and a retractable tailwheel. Unlike other Italian fighters of the period, its two machine guns were mounted in the wings, rather than in the fuselage. The sole prototype received the registration M.M.363. Still lacking a paint job, the aircraft made its first flight on 22 April 1939. It was then transferred to Guidonia to participate in comparative tests with other fighters built to the Progetto R ("Project R") specification. On 20 February 1940, the aircraft was brought back to Foligno for some modifications, in particular the fitting of a more streamlined cowling for the radial engine. It then returned to Guidonia on 21 June.

The AUT.18 had in fact embodied the aims of Progetto R - the modernisation (riammodernamento) of the Regia Aeronautica. However, due to bureaucratic delays in the delivery of the aircraft (the Macchi MC.200 had already completed its first flight in 1937), the fact that the fighter did not offer performance significantly greater than others already available, and above all, for political reasons, the Regia Aeronautica did not order the aircraft into series production when the prototype was delivered to them on 5 November.

Of the destiny of the prototype, little is known. Trojani throught that it had been transferred to Germany for evaluation trials after the Armistice, but it is believed more likely that it was destroyed in a raid after its transfer to Orvieto. Others think that it was captured by the Allies for study. It is noted that the RAF was already aware of the aircraft in 1936 and numbered it amongst known Italian types.

[edit] Specifications

[edit] General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 8.56 m (28 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 18.70 m² (201 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,320 kg (5,110 lb)
Maximum weight: 2,975 kg (6,560 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Fiat A.80 R.C.41, 780 kW (1,044 hp)

[edit] Performance

Maximum speed: 480 km/h (300 mph)
Range: 800 km (500 miles)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,800 ft)
Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)

[edit] Armament

2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns

[edit] Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence:

[edit] References

Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p.30
F. Trojani, La coda di Minosse, Mursia, Milano, 1964
Lanfranco Cesari, AUSA - Una fabbrica una storia, Pro Foligno, Foligno, 2004
R. Gentilli L'aviazione da caccia italiana 1918-1939. Volume 2o: tecnica, stemmi, esportazioni, Ed.A.I. s.r.l., Firenze, 1982