Breda A.7

A.7
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Breda
Introduction	1929
Primary user	Regia Aeronautica
Number built	14, plus 1 A.16

The Breda A.7 was a reconnaissance aircraft developed in Italy for use by the Regia Aeronautica in 1929. It was a braced parasol monoplane of conventional configuration with tailskid undercarriage. The pilot and observer sat in tandem, open cockpits. A single prototype of a long-range example, originally designated A.7 Raid and later A.16 (or Ba.16) was also constructed, but the air force showed no interest in it.

Variants

• A.7LD prototypes - Two prototypes, powered by a 298 kW (400 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich piston engine. (2 built).
• A.7 - Production version. Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, powered by a 380 kW (510 hp) Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 piston engine, and fitted with a revised cooling system and empennage (12 built).
• A.7 Raid (later A.16 or Ba.16) - Long-range version, powered by Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 AQ engine. Engine later changed to a Bristol Jupiter VII and an extra seat added.

Operators

 Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Aeronautica

Specifications (A.7)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2, pilot and observer
• Length: 9.22 m (30 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 15.18 m (49 ft 10 in)
• Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 43.0 m² (463 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,500 kg (5,511 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 piston engine, 380 kW (510 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph)
• Range: 1,200 km (746 miles)
• Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,325 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.6 m/s (905 ft/min)

Armament

• 1 × rearward-firing, trainable .303 Lewis Gun for observer

See also

Related lists

• List of Interwar military aircraft

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Breda A.7.

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 195. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 77.