 | Lightweight fighters| Aviation Discuss Lightweight fighters in the World War II - Aviation forums; Were any of these in action? Here's the moderately famous one... |
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06-11-2005, 11:28 AM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cyprus
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| Lightweight fighters
Were any of these in action? Here's the moderately famous one
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06-11-2005, 11:29 AM
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#2 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
Posts: 20,412
Country:  | Ambrosini S.A.I 403 was by far the best.
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06-11-2005, 11:34 AM
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#3 | | Senior Member
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| Got a pic? Did they see any action?
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06-11-2005, 11:36 AM
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#4 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
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Country: | Afraid not  Ill hunt down some stats on it.
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06-11-2005, 11:42 AM
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#5 | | Senior Member
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| Looks like a cute plane 
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06-11-2005, 01:03 PM
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#6 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country:  | CC what are you baising you're claim this plane was the best on??
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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06-11-2005, 01:43 PM
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#7 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
Posts: 20,412
Country: | In terms of lightweight fighters, everything...
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06-11-2005, 01:45 PM
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#8 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
Posts: 20,412
Country: | 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. 1.000PS 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 (some guys [that I insulted here in earlier versions] even tried to use a DB 601 with
a CR.42 biplane), 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 PS, 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.
My comment:
Appearing in great number since spring/summer 1944, they would have been a problem for the allies.
With intact fuel supply and a anti-bomber-weapon like the later german R4M "Orkan" (Hurricane)
rocket, they would have blown the allied daylight bomber offensive over italy.
Imagine: 650km/h with only 750PS! Compare this with the biplanes of the beginning 1930īs,
which had almost the same power, but less than 400km/h!
Even the excellent Heinkel He 100 out of 1938 needed 1.1750PS for only 20km/h more!
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Specifications:
Ambrosini S.A.I. 403 italian fighter
Dimensions:
Wing span: 9,80m
Length: 8,20m
Height: 2,90m
Weights:
Empty: 1.983kg
Maximum Take-Off: 2.640kg
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 650km/h
Service Ceiling: 10.000m
Normal Range: 937km
Powerplant:
One 750PS Isotta-Fraschini R.C.21/60 V-Engine
Armament:
four 12,7mm Breda-SAFAT MG or each two
12,7mm Breda-SAFAT MG and 20mm MG151/20 cannon
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06-11-2005, 02:00 PM
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#9 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | speed isn't the most important factor in bomber interceptions however......
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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06-11-2005, 02:03 PM
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#10 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
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Country: | Who said it was restricted to bomber interception...
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06-11-2005, 02:04 PM
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#11 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | no one, but you only talked about it in the bomber interception role, and made it out to be the best thing since sliced brean in that role.......
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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06-11-2005, 02:06 PM
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#12 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
Posts: 20,412
Country: | Ummmm....Where the hell did I mention Bomber Interception...
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06-11-2005, 02:14 PM
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#13 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | Quote: |
Originally Posted by CC Appearing in great number since spring/summer 1944, they would have been a problem for the allies.
With intact fuel supply and a anti-bomber-weapon like the later german R4M "Orkan" (Hurricane)
rocket, they would have blown the allied daylight bomber offensive over italy |
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"Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy." | |
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06-11-2005, 02:16 PM
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#14 | | Konfused with a 'K'
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Turin, Italy
Posts: 20,412
Country: | I didnt write that, thats off the site I got it from!  If I'd typed it, I would have used a capital I for Italy to further push the point of its superiority.
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06-11-2005, 02:21 PM
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#15 | | Member
Join Date: May 2005 Location: Granada,Spain
Posts: 40
| Great Information Cheddar!!!
But I suposse that a lot of things should have to be changed in the 30&40s Italy to develop this production. I think that stopping the daylight bombing of the allies, would be more than difficult...Do You think that this lightweight fighter colud defeat allied fighters at that moment? Even more, in the case that the fighters were able to scort the bombers over Italy....
Anyway...The plane looks absolutely gorgeous. | |
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