Fiat CR.32

Fiat CR.32
Country	Italy
Role	Biplane fighter
First flight	28 April 1933
Built	1052

Photo gallery of a Fiat CR.32, The Fiat CR.32 was an Italian biplane fighter used in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. It was compact, robust and highly manoeuvrable and gave impressive displays all over Europe in the hands of the Italian Pattuglie Acrobatiche. The CR.32 fought in North and East Africa, in Albania, and in the Mediterranean theatre. It saw service in the air forces of China, Austria, Hungary, Paraguay and Venezuela. Used extensively in the Spanish Civil War, it gained a reputation as one of the most outstanding fighter biplanes of all time. Subsequently it was overtaken by more advanced monoplane designs and was obsolete by 1939.

Source: Fiat CR.32 on Wiki

Fiat CR.32
Photographer	Libor Spurek
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	21

Fiat CR.32 01

Fiat CR.32 02

Fiat CR.32 03

Fiat CR.32 04

Fiat CR.32 05

Fiat CR.32 06

Fiat CR.32 07

Fiat CR.32 08

Fiat CR.32 09

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Fiat CR.32 Walk Around
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Photos	27

Fiat CR.32

Fiat CR.32 Walk Around
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Fiat CR.32

The Acrobat of the Skies

The Fiat CR.32 was the most widely used Italian fighter of the 1930s. Designed by Celestino Rosatelli (the “CR” in its name), it represented the peak of biplane technology before the monoplane era took over. Known for its incredible agility and robustness, it gained worldwide fame during the Spanish Civil War, where it dominated the skies against Soviet-built fighters. Pilots loved it for its aerobatic grace, earning it the nickname Chirri (Cricket). Though technically aging by the start of WWII, its maneuverability allowed it to remain a dangerous opponent in East Africa and the Mediterranean.

Attribute	Technical Specification (CR.32bis)
Role	Fighter / Ground Attack
Crew	1 (Pilot)
First Flight	April 28, 1933
Powerplant	1 × Fiat A.30 RA bis V12 liquid-cooled engine
Horsepower	600 hp (447 kW)
Maximum Speed	360 km/h (224 mph)
Armament	2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns (synchronized)
Construction	Duralumin and steel frame, fabric-covered

Design Engineering: The Warren Truss

Warren Truss Wing Bracing: The CR.32 used a unique “W-strut” or Warren Truss wing arrangement. This eliminated the need for traditional external bracing wires, making the wings extremely rigid and strong while reducing drag. This allowed the pilot to pull violent high-G maneuvers without fear of structural failure.
The Fiat A.30 Engine: Unlike many contemporary biplanes that used bulky radial engines, the CR.32 used a sleek liquid-cooled V12. This allowed for a much narrower, aerodynamic nose, though the “honeycomb” radiator placed beneath the engine was a distinctive feature of the aircraft’s silhouette.
Heavy Firepower: While many fighters of the era still used light .30 caliber machine guns, the CR.32 was often armed with two 12.7 mm (.50 cal) Breda-SAFAT guns. These fired high-explosive and incendiary rounds, making it a lethal “tank” of the sky.
Metal Construction: Despite its fabric outer skin, the underlying structure was made entirely of high-strength steel and duralumin tubes, making it much tougher and easier to maintain in the field than wooden-framed biplanes.

Legacy: Dominance in Spain

The Spanish Civil War: The CR.32 was the mainstay of the Aviazione Legionaria. It famously faced the Soviet Polikarpov I-15 and I-16. While the I-16 was faster, the CR.32 could out-turn almost anything, allowing Italian and Spanish pilots to dominate through superior dogfighting tactics.
A Global Export: Its success in Spain led to massive exports. It was used by China against the Japanese, as well as by Hungary, Austria, Paraguay, and Venezuela.
Longevity: The Spanish were so impressed by the CR.32 that they produced it under license as the Hispano Ha-132-L “Chirri” and kept them in service as trainers until 1953—twenty years after its first flight.
The Final Biplane: The lessons learned from the CR.32 led directly to the Fiat CR.42 Falco, the last biplane fighter to be produced by any major power during World War II.