Fiat G.50
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The FIAT G.50 Freccia (Italian: "Arrow") was an Italian fighter aircraft of World War II. It was the first Italian low-wing monoplane fighter with enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear to go into production (without the enclosed cockpit though, as Italian pilots felt uncomfortable with it).
Contents |
[edit] Development
The Fiat G.50 was designed by ing. Giuseppe Gabrielli starting from 1935. The maiden flight of the first prototype occurred on February 2, 1937. The G.50 was the first mainline Italian fighter with retractable undercarriage, but, despite all the other improvements, it has a maximum speed only 33 km/h superior of its predecessor, FIAT CR.42. In particular, the G.50 used the same engine of CR.42, the 840 hp FIAT A. 74 RC38, a copy of British Mercury VII type.
In September 1940 a slightly improved version, the G.50 bis, appeared. Its main advantage was the extended battle range.
[edit] Operational history
The first operative aricraft were delivered to Regia Aeronautica in 1938.
Extremely maneuverable, it was one of the best fighters during the Spanish Civil War, yet by the time the World War II started it was considered underpowered and underarmed. About 780 were built, 35 of which were exported to Finland.
At the entrance of Italy in World War II, there were 118 G.50s available, with the 51° Stormo and part of the 52°. 48 aircraft saw limited action during the Battle of Britain as part of the Corpo Aereo Italiano based in Belgium, but their use was hampered by the extremely short range. The remaining aircraft saw action in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Appreciated mainly for its strength, it was used mainly for attack roles in the second half of the war. By the time of the Italian Armistice, few G.50s were left in Italian service; a few were used as part of the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, while 4 were used by Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana as fighter trainers.
The G.50 saw its longest and most successful operations in the two Finnish wars, Winter War 1939-1940 and Continuation War 1941-1944 against Soviet Union. The fighters arrived too late to effect the course of the winter battles of 1940, but nevertheless 13 aerial victories were gained in the short time, with Captain O. Ehrnrooth, lt. O. Puhakka and sg. L. Aaltonen being the most successful FIAT pilots with 2 victories each.
During the years of Continuation War the FIAT fighters were most successful during the attack phase of 1941, but several factors worked soon against the type. Soviets got better, newer fighter types into the front lines during 1942 and 1943, while the FIATs were getting old and tired, and lack of spare parts meant that pilots were allowed only minimal number of sorties. During 1941 the FIAT squadron, LLv 26, claimed 52 victories against the loss of two fighters. The most successful Fiat G. 50 fighter pilots were O. Tuominen (23 victories), O. Puhakka (11), N. Trontti (6), O. Paronen (4), U. Nieminen (4) and L. Lautamäki (4). The Finnish Fiats were finally phased out of front line duty in summer 1944.
[edit] Survivors
Currently, a G.50 bis is undergoing restoration in the Museum of Yugoslav Aviation, in Surčin, near Belgrade airport.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (G.50)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 7.79 m (25 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 10.96 m (35 ft 11 in)
- Height: 2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 18.2 m² (196 ft²)
- Empty weight: 1,975 kg (4,354 lb)
- Loaded weight: 2,706 kg (5,965 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,415 kg (5,324 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Fiat A.74 RC38 radial engine, 625 kW (838 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 472 km/h (294 mph)
- Range: 670 km (418 miles)
- Service ceiling: 9,835 m (32,258 ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)
Armament
- 2x 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
[edit] Related content
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
G.30 - G.46 - G.49 - G.50 - G.51 - G.52 - G.55
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable military accidents and incidents · Notable airline accidents and incidents · Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft