G.55 Centauro
G.55 in Regia Aeronautica markings
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Fiat
Designed by	Giuseppe Gabrielli
Maiden flight	1942-04-30
Introduced	1943
Status	Retired
Primary users	Regia Aeronautica Argentina, Egypt

The Fiat G.55 Centauro (Italian: "Centaur") was a single-engine single-seat World War II fighter aircraft used by the Italian Air Force in 1943-1945. It was designed and built in Turin by FIAT-Aeritalia. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... The Regia Aeronautica (meaning Royal Air Force) was the Italian air force from 1923 until World War II. // A brief history At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during the colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... Fiat Grande Punto Fiat Group, or Fiat S.p. ... Giuseppe Gabrielli (February 26, 1903 - November 29, 1987) was an Italian aeronautics engineers. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... The Regia Aeronautica (meaning Royal Air Force) was the Italian air force from 1923 until World War II. // A brief history At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during the colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... The Regia Aeronautica (meaning Royal Air Force) was the Italian air force from 1923 until World War II. // A brief history At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during the colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in... Torino redirects here. ... Fiat Grande Punto Fiat Group, or Fiat S.p. ... Alenia Aeronautica (formerly Aeritalia) is an aerospace engineering corporation in Italy, a subisidary of Finmeccanica. ...

Design and development

By 1939, all the main Italian aircraft factories had begun designing a new series of fighter, with inline engine as opposed to the radial engines that powered the Italian fighters in the early WWII. This process brought to the first generation of Italian fighters equipped with the Italian built copy of the Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine, the so-called Serie 1/2, whose most prominent representative was the Macchi C.202 Folgore. However, the process didn't stop, and already in 1941 designers shifted their attention on the new Daimler-Benz DB 605. Fiat designer Giuseppe Gabrielli, while experimenting a new version of his Fiat G.50 fighter, equipped with the DB 601, started a new design that was to be powered by the Daimler-Benz DB 605. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... The Daimler-Benz DB 601 was a German aircraft engine built during World War II. It was a liquid-cooled inverted V12, and powered the Messerschmitt Bf 109, among others. ... The Macchi C.202 Folgore was a World War II fighter aircraft built by the Macchi company, a development of their earlier C.200 Saetta mounting a more powerful German designed Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Developed from the Diamler-Benz DB 600 first produced in 1937, the 600 series of engines was used mainly in Germanys Messerschmitt Bf 109 and 110 fighters. ... Fiat Grande Punto Fiat Group, or Fiat S.p. ... Giuseppe Gabrielli (February 26, 1903 - November 29, 1987) was an Italian aeronautics engineers. ... Fiat G.50 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... The Daimler-Benz DB 601 was a German aircraft engine built during World War II. It was a liquid-cooled inverted V12, and powered the Messerschmitt Bf 109, among others. ... Developed from the Diamler-Benz DB 600 first produced in 1937, the 600 series of engines was used mainly in Germanys Messerschmitt Bf 109 and 110 fighters. ...

The first G.55 prototype flew on April 30, 1942, immediately showing its good performance and flight characteristics. It was armed with 1 Mauser MG 151/20 20 mm cannon, installed in the hub with 200 rounds, and 4 Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm machine-guns, 2 in the upper engine cowling and 2 in the lower part, with 300 rounds each. This layout soon proved to be troublesome, both for rearming and for the feeding of the upper machine-guns: for this reason, the 2 lower machine-guns where moved in the wings, in the pre-production series, the Serie 0. April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... The MG 151 (MG 151/15) was a 15 mm cannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser starting in 1940. ... Breda-SAFAT was a series of machine guns used on Italian aircraft during World War 2. ...

The prototype flew to Guidonia, where it was put into trials against the other fighters of the so-called Serie 5 Macchi C.205N Orione and the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario. The trials showed that the Centauro was the best performer and won the tender set by the Regia Aeronautica. The C.205N was good at low and medium altitudes, fast and with good diving characteristics but its performance dropped considerably over 8000 meters, particularly in handling. The Re.2005 was the fastest at high altitudes, but suffered of structural weakness. The G.55 prototype reached 620 km/h full loaded, a little less than expected, but had a strong airframe and was the best one regarding handling and stability at every altitude. The only negative remark noticed by G.55 pilots was the pronounced left-hand yawing at take-off. Country Italy Region Lazio Province Rome Mayor Elevation 105 m Area 79 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 73,073  - Density 1,178/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Guidoniani Dialing code 06 Postal code 00010, 00011, 00012, 00014 Frazioni Albuccione, Bivio, Collefiorito, Colleverde, Marco Simone... The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. ... The Reggiane Re. ... The Regia Aeronautica (meaning Royal Air Force) was the Italian air force from 1923 until World War II. // A brief history At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during the colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in... The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. ... The Reggiane Re. ...

Production

By early 1943 increased allied bombing raids over Italy had showed that there was no suitable high altitude fighter to deal with them effectively. The Macchi C.202 performance decreased above 8,000 m (25,000 ft), the typical altitude of the bombers and the C.202s armament of 2x12.7 mm machine guns was hardly adequate to bring down the large American bombers. As said, of the Serie 5 fighters the Centauro showed the best high altitude performance, due to its large wing surface area. Also its powerful armament, standardized in the production Serie I in 2x12.7 mm machine guns in the engine cowling and 3x20 mm cannon (1 in the hub and 2 in the wings, substituting the 12.7 machine-guns), was enough to bring down the US bombers, along with the generous ammo load (G.55 had 250 rounds of 20 mm ammunition in the hub cannon as opposed to 120 rounds in the Re. 2005). 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... The Macchi C.202 Folgore was a World War II fighter aircraft built by the Macchi company, a development of their earlier C.200 Saetta mounting a more powerful German designed Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine. ... The Macchi C.202 Folgore (Italian: Lightning) was a World War II Italian fighter aircraft built by Macchi Aeronautica. ...

Thus, Regia Aeronautica commissioned the production of 1,800 G.55, raising that number to 3,600. A pre-production series of 34 examples was commissioned: these planes were mostly based on the prototype, with minor changes to improve its flying characteristics. They had a different weapon layout, as stated above, with the 2 lower cowling machine-guns moved into the wings. Only 19 of the 34 commissioned planes were built, and 6 of them were converted to the Serie I standard in factory. The Regia Aeronautica (meaning Royal Air Force) was the Italian air force from 1923 until World War II. // A brief history At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during the colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in...

The production version, named Serie I, had the standard armament of 3 MG 151/20 cannons and 2 Breda-SAFAT machine-guns, plus 2 underwing racks to bring either 2 bombs (up to 160 kg/ 353 lb) or 2 drop tanks (100 liter/26.4 US Gal). At the date of Armistice, September 8, 1943, 35 G.55 of all Series were built, including 3 prototypes: none of them flew to South Italy, were the legitimate government was. From that date on, the Centauro served with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, the air force of the fascist state created by Mussolini with the Germans' help in North Italy. The FIAT factory, in Turin continued the production under German control, until it was stopped on September, 1944: 148 G.55 were delivered to the ANR, 15 more were destroyed by US bombing raids and, when the factory was captured, 37 more exemplars were ready, while 73 were still on the production line, at various degree of completion. The MG 151 (MG 151/15) was a 15 mm cannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser starting in 1940. ... Breda-SAFAT was a series of machine guns used on Italian aircraft during World War 2. ... A white flag is traditionally used to represent a truce. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (A.N.R) (National Republican Air Force) was the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Luftwaffe in Northern Italy. ... Benito Mussolini created a fascist state through the use of propaganda, total control of the media and disassembly of the working democratic government. ... Fiat Grande Punto Fiat Group, or Fiat S.p. ... Torino redirects here. ... The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (A.N.R) (National Republican Air Force) was the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Luftwaffe in Northern Italy. ...

Operational history

After the initial testing on Spring, 1943, the G.55 prototype was detached with the 353rd Squadriglia (flight - very similar in composition to the Luftwaffe Staffel -) of XX Gruppo (squadron), 51st Stormo (wing), for initial operating trials. In May, the Squadriglia transferred to Sardinia, were it began its interceptions: the G.55 had his baptism of fire on June 5, 1943, along with the C.202 and C.205. In the same month, 12 G.55/0 were delivered to the IV Gruppo complementare, a reserve squadron assigned to support with aircraft and personnel the 51st, 52nd and 53rd Stormi and the CLXI Gruppo autonomo. Soon, this planes were delivered to the 353rd Squadriglia, that was reassigned to the airport of Ciampino, near Rome, to help in the defence of the capital. In July and August, the Squadriglia flew several mission over Rome, soon joined by the remaining flights of the XX Gruppo, that was to be equipped with the Centauro. In August, the first exemplars of G.55/I were delivered by FIAT to the 372nd Squadriglia. In September, at the date of Armistice, all the existing G.55 were captured by the Germans or flown to North Italy by their crew. The Centauro entered in service with the ANR: it was decided to produce 500 G.55, of which 300 G.55/I and 200 G.55/II of the Serie II, that were to be armed with 5 MG 151/20 and no machine-guns. As said, only 148 were delivered to the ANR units that, as the number of avalaible G.55 dwindled, were progressively re-equipped with the Bf 109G, of various subversions, even though Italian pilots tended to avoid the substitution of the G.55 with a plane that they considered inferior. The ANR had 2 Gruppi Caccia terrestre (fighter squadrons): the first was initially equipped with the C.205, from November 1943 to May 1944, then, re-equipped with the G.55/I in June 1944 until it switched to the Bf 109G starting from November 1944. The 2nd Gruppo was the main unit on G.55, of which had 70 examples between December 1943 and August 1944, before being progressively re-equipped with the Bf 109G. The first unit in ANR to be equipped with G.55 was the Squadriglia Montefusco, in November 1943, operating from Piemonte until March 29, 1944, when it was absorbed by the 1st Gruppo and transferred in Veneto. The 2nd Gruppo, with its 3 squadriglie (the 4th, "Gigi Tre Osei", the 5th, "Diavoli Rossi", and the 6th, "Gamba di Ferro") operated near Milan and Varese until April 1944, then it was transferred near Parma and Pavia, then again near the Lake of Garda (Brescia and Verona). 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... WING ESPN 1410 is an commercial AM radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating with 5,000 watts at 1410 kHz with studios, offices and transmitter located on David Road in Kettering. ... Sardinia (pronounced ; Italian: ; Sardinian: or Sardinna) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily). ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... The Macchi C.202 Folgore (Italian: Lightning) was a World War II Italian fighter aircraft built by Macchi Aeronautica. ... The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Italian: Greyhound) was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... Ciampino is a town in the province of Rome, Lazio, Italy. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban... A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. ... The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (A.N.R) (National Republican Air Force) was the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Luftwaffe in Northern Italy. ... The MG 151 (MG 151/15) was a 15 mm cannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser starting in 1940. ... The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (A.N.R) (National Republican Air Force) was the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Luftwaffe in Northern Italy. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ... The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (A.N.R) (National Republican Air Force) was the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Luftwaffe in Northern Italy. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Italian: Greyhound) was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ... The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (A.N.R) (National Republican Air Force) was the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Luftwaffe in Northern Italy. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Piedmont is a region of northwestern Italy. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (89th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Vèneto is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. ... Milan (Italian: ; Lombard: Milán (listen)) is one of the biggest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. ... Varese is a city in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan. ... Country Italy Region Emilia-Romagna Province Parma (PR) Mayor Elvio Ubaldi (since May 28, 2002) Elevation 55 m Area 260 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 175,789  - Density 676/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Parmigiani (Parmensi are called the provinces inhabitants) Dialing code... Church San Michele in Pavia The Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) on the Ticino river is a symbol of Pavia Pavìa (the ancient Ticinum) (population 71,000) is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its... Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. ... Country Italy Region Lombardy Province Brescia (BS) Mayor Paolo Corsini (since June 10, 2003) Elevation 150 m Area 90 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 192,165  - Density 2,087/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Bresciani Dialing code 030 Postal code 25100 Frazioni Fornaci, Sant... Verona is an ancient town, episcopal see, and province in Veneto, Northern Italy. ...

German interest

In December 1942 a technical commission of the Regia Aeronautica was invited by Luftwaffe to test some German aircrafts in Rechlin. The visit was part of a joint plan for the standardization of the Axis aircraft production. In the same time some Luftwaffe officers visited Guidonia where they were particularly interested in the performances promised by the Serie 5 plane. On December 9 these impressions were discussed in a Luftwaffe staff meeting and raised the interest of Goering itself. In February 1943 a German test commission was sent in Italy to evaluate the new Italian fighters. The commission was led by Oberst Petersen and was formed by Luftwaffe officiers and pilots nad by technical personnel, among them the Flugbaumeister Malz. The Germans carried with them also several aircrafts included a Fw 190A and a Bf 109G for direct comparison tests in simulated dogfights. The tests began February 20. The German commission was very impressed by the Italian aircraft, the G.55 in particular. In general, all the Serie 5 fighters were very good at low altitudes, but the G.55 was competitive with its German opponents also in term of speed and climb rate at high altitudes still maintaining superior handling characteristics. The definitive evaluation by the German commission was "excellent" for the G.55, "good" for the Re.2005 and "average" for the C.205. Oberst Petersen defined the G.55 "the best fighter in the Axis" and immediately telegraphed his impressions to Goering. After listening the recommendations of Petersen, Milch and Galland, a meeting held by Goering on February 22 voted to produce the G.55 in Germany. This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... World Map with the participants in World War II. The Allies depicted in green (those in light green entered after the attack on Pearl Harbor), the Axis Powers in orange (including occupied or annexed countries), and neutral countries in grey. ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger (Butcher-bird) was a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe, and one of the best fighters of its generation. ... The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt in the early 1930s. ... World Map with the participants in World War II. The Allies depicted in green (those in light green entered after the attack on Pearl Harbor), the Axis Powers in orange (including occupied or annexed countries), and neutral countries in grey. ...

The interest of the Germans, apart from the good test results, derived also from the development possibilities they was able to see in the G.55 and in the Re.2005. Particularly, the G.55 was bigger and heavier and was considered a very good candidate for the new DB 603 engine. Other visits were organized in Germany during March and May 1943 in Rechlin and Berlin. The G.55 was again tested at Rechlin at the presence of Milch. Gabrielli and other FIAT personnel were invited to visit German factories and to discuss the evolution of the aircraft. The specifications of the German G55/II included the DB 603 engine, five 20 mm guns and a pressurized cockpit. The suggestion of weapons in the wings, limited to one 20 mm gun for each wing, originated the final configuration of the Serie I, while the DB 603 engine was successfully installed in the what became the G.56 prototype. As a concrete results of the German interest in the G.55, the Luftwaffe acquired three complete G.55/0 airframes (MM 91064-65-66) for evaluations and experiments giving in change three DB 603 engines and original machinery for the setup of other production line of the Italian copy of DB 605. Two of the Luftwaffe G.55's remained in Turin, at the Aeritalia plants, where they were used by German and Italian engineers to study the planned modifications and the possible optimizations to the production process. Later these two were converted to Serie I and delivered to the ANR. The third one was transferred to Rechlin for tests and experiments in Germany. The DB 603 engines were used to build the G.56 prototypes. This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The interest in the G.55 program was still high after the Armistice: in October 1943 Kurt Tank, who previously personally tested a G.55 in Rechlin, having nothing but praise for the aircraft, was in Turin to discuss about the G.55 production. However, war events and the not yet optimized production process were the reasons for which the G.55 program was eventually abandoned by the Luftwaffe. Early production of G.55 required about 15,000 man-hours; while there were estimations to reduce the effort to about 9,000 man-hours, the German factories were able to assemble a Bf 109 in only 5,000 man-hours. Kurt Waldemar Tank, 1944. ... A man-hour or person-hour[1], [2] is the amount of work performed by an average worker in one hour. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ...

After World War II

After the end of the conflict Fiat started the production of G.55A, a fighter/advanced trainer whose first prototype flew on September 5, 1946. The Aeronautica Militare Italiana acquired 19 and Argentine Air Force 30, of which 19 later sold to Egypt. The G.55B was a two-seat advanced trainer, acquired in 10 units by the Aeronautica Militare and in 15 units by Argentina. September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The Aeronautica Militare Italiana is the Italian air force. ... The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina, FAA) is the national air force of Argentina. ...

Fiat G.56

The Fiat G.56 was basically a Fiat G.55 with a German Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine. Two prototypes were built, flight tests starting in the spring of 1944. Daimler-Benz DB 603 The Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine was a German aircraft engine used during World War 2. ...

Maximum speed was 685 km/h and the aircraft was armed with 3 German 20 mm cannons, 1 firing through the propeller hub, the other two installed in the wings.

Specifications (G.55)

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 9.37 m (30 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 11.85 m (38 ft 10 in)
• Height: 3.13 m (without the antenna mast) (10 ft 3 1/4 in)
• Wing area: 21.11 m² (227.23 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2,730 kg (6,005.67 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 3,720 kg (8,183.56 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Fiat R.A 1050 Tifone (license-built Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1) liquid-cooled inverted V-12, 1,085 kW (1,475 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 620 km/h at 7,000 m (385 mph at 22,965.88 feet)
• Range: 1,160 km or 1,650 with 2 100 liter drop tanks under wings (720.94 miles or 1,025.48 with 2 26.4 US Gal drop tanks under wings)
• Service ceiling: 12,700 m (41,666 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² 176.2 (lb/ft² 36.01)
• Power/mass: kW/kg 0.291 (hp/lb 0.18)

Armament

In the G.55 Serie 0: The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... Developed from the Diamler-Benz DB 600 first produced in 1937, the 600 series of engines was used mainly in Germanys Messerschmitt Bf 109 and 110 fighters. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing as limited by its fuel capacity. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. ... Power-to-weight ratio is a measure commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles and aircraft. ...

• 1x20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, engine-mounted (250 rounds)
• 4x12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, 2 in the engine cowling, 2 in the wings (300 rounds each)

In the G.55 Serie I: The MG 151 (MG 151/15) was a 15 mm cannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser starting in 1940. ... Breda-SAFAT was a series of machine guns used on Italian aircraft during World War 2. ...

• 3x20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, one engine-mounted (250 rounds) and two wing-mounted (200 rounds each)
• 2x12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the engine cowling (300 rounds each)
• Provision for two 160 kg (353 lb) bombs on underwing racks

The MG 151 (MG 151/15) was a 15 mm cannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser starting in 1940. ... Breda-SAFAT was a series of machine guns used on Italian aircraft during World War 2. ...

Operators

• Argentina (Post War)
• Egypt (Post War)
• Italy

Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946). ...

References

• Ali D'Italia # 10 - Fiat G.55 - Gregory Alegi
• Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1935-1943 - Johnatan Thompson
• I caccia della serie 5, Re2005, Mc205, Fiat G.G5 - Nino Arena
• Pictorial History of the Regia Aeronautica Vol.2 - Di Amico/Valentini
• Air War Italy, axis air forces from liberation of Rome to the surrender - Di Amico/Valentini
• Axis Aircraft of World War II, by David Monday

Related content

Comparable aircraft

Macchi C.205 - Reggiane Re.2005 - Messerschmitt Me 109 - P-51 Mustang The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. ... The Reggiane Re. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ... The North American P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflicts most successful and recognizable aircraft. ...

See also

• Italian aircraft production 1935 to 1945