Macchi MC-200

Macchi MC-200

BetaaltItalië
Typejager

Fotogalerij op een Macchi MC-200, De Macchi MC.200 Saetta (foudre) fut le meilleur chasseur italien du début de la Seconde Guerre mondiale en étant pratiquement le seul avion de la chasse Italienne qui pouvait sortir gagnant d’un combat avec ses adversaires des forces alliées. C’est Mario Castoldi, qui a imaginé le Mc 200, hij is ook de ontwerper van Italiaanse watervliegtuigen die deelnamen aan de Schneider Cup, waaronder de MC72 die het wereldsnelheidsrecord voor zijn categorie brak met 700 km / h (een record zal slechts 30 jaar later worden gebroken door een Russisch watervliegtuig).

Bron: Macchi MC-200 op Wikipedia

Macchi MC-200
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LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's21
Wacht, Macchi MC-200 voor u zoeken ...
Macchi MC.200 Saetta Walk Around
FotograafVladimir Yakubov
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Zie ook:

Tweede Wereldoorlog: de definitieve visuele geschiedenis van Blitzkrieg tot de atoombom (DK Definitive Visual Histories) - Amazon Kaart voor kaart van de Tweede Wereldoorlog (DK History Map by Map) - Amazon


The Macchi C.200 Saetta was an Italian monoplane fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Aeronautica Macchi. Designed by Mario Castoldi, the C.200 was conceived as a modern fighter for the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) and was one of Italy’s principal fighter types during the early years of World War II.

While respected for its exceptional maneuverability, rugged all-metal construction, and high-speed diving stability, the Saetta was often considered underpowered and lightly armed compared to its main contemporaries, such as the British Spitfire and Hurricane.


Design and Development Features

Design Characteristics

  • Structure: The aircraft was an all-metal cantilever low-wing monoplane featuring a semi-monocoque fuselage and retractable landing gear.
  • Engine Choice: Chief designer Mario Castoldi preferred inline engines (as seen in his later designs like the C.202), but the C.200 was mandated to use a radial engine—the Fiat A.74 RC.38—for superior reliability as per Italian Air Ministry specifications.
  • Visibility: The aircraft had a distinctive “humped” fuselage profile that placed the cockpit partially open and elevated, granting the pilot an unusually wide and unobstructed field of view over the radial engine.
  • Flying Qualities: Early production batches suffered from serious stability problems, specifically a tendency to enter an uncontrollable spin (autorotation). This issue was later resolved through aerodynamic modifications to the wing profile.

Operational Armament

  • Primary Guns: Standard armament consisted of two 12.7 mm (.50 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted in the upper cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller. These guns were generally regarded as insufficient in firepower against modern Allied fighters.
  • Secondary/Later Armament: Some later aircraft were field-modified or produced with an additional two 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns in the wings.
  • Fighter-Bomber Role: Due to its ruggedness and air-cooled engine, the C.200 was often employed as a fighter-bomber (cacciabombardiere) later in the war, capable of carrying a bombload of up to 320 kg (705 lb) under the wings.

Technische specificaties

Specificatie Detail
Type Single-Seat Fighter/Fighter-Bomber
Bemanning 1 Pilot
Krachtbron 1 × Fiat A.74 RC.38 14-cylinder radial engine
Engine Power 870 hp at takeoff
Max Speed Approx. 512 km/h (318 mph) at 4500m
Spanwijdte 10.58 m (34 ft 8.5 in)
Lengte 8.25 m (27 ft 0.8 in)
Empty Weight Approx. 1,964 kg (4,330 lb)
Total Production Over 1,150 units

The C.200 saw extensive operational service across various fronts, including North Africa, Greece, and the Soviet Union, flying more sorties than any other Italian fighter until its role was gradually taken over by the superior Macchi C.202 Folgore.


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