| Plane type & model |
Monoplane fighter (SAI.403) |
At the beginning of the war, the Regia Aeronautica (italian air force) had a lot of obsolete planes,
most fighters were biplanes. They also had a few monoplane fighter types of excellent maneuverability,
but their radial powerplants of ca. 1000CV didnīt allow at least 530km/h. In 1941,
german DB 601 and later also DB 605 engines arrived and were built under licence for the existing
monoplane fighters , and the results were good, but the speed didnīt reach allied standards. Further, italian fighters were mostly too weak armed with only two 12,7mm guns. Because the italian industry wasnīt as fitted for war and capable as the ones of its enemies, they tried to solve the problem with a lightweight fighter: The Ambrosini S.A.I.207.
This one followed after the S.A.I.107, which had less than 540 CV, but reached 560km/h.
The S.A.I.207 were mostly built of nonstrategic materials, had excellent handling and maneuverability.
Its service ceiling was 12.000m and its armament was typical italian: two 12,7mm Breda MG.
It reached 625km/h with a a 750PS Isotta-Fraschini Delta RC40 V-engine and 2.000 orders came in.
They were cancelled after 15, when the advanced S.A.I.403 was in prototype stadium. 3.000 of them were ordered,
but only the prototype was finished. The S.A.I.403 had improved aerodynamics and armament.
But the development of these attractive planes ended in october, 1943 due to the armistice with the allies.
Infos took from http://www.geocities.com/lastdingo/aviation/sai207.htm |
