Design and development Fiat CR.42

fiat cr.42

the cr.42 evolutionary design based on earlier fiat cr.32, in turn derived fiat cr.30 series created in 1932. regia aeronautica had employed cr.32 during spanish civil war great success, led fiat proposing more advanced fighter based around supercharged fiat a.74r1c.38 air-cooled radial engine geared drive metal three-blade fiat-hamilton standard 3d.41-1 propeller of 2.9 metres (9 ft 6 in) diameter , robust, clean, sesquiplane design. rigidly braced wings covered fabric constructed light duralumin alloy , steel. reached top speed of 438 km/h (272 mph) @ 5,300 m (17,400 ft) , 342 km/h (213 mph) @ ground level. climb rate 1 minute , 25 seconds 1,000 m (3,280 ft) , of 7 minutes , 20 seconds 6,000 m (19,700 ft).

in spite of biplane configuration, cr.42 modern, sleek-looking design based around strong steel , alloy frame incorporating naca cowling housing radial engine, fairings fixed main landing gear. cr.42 s upper wing larger lower wing, configuration known sesquiplane. aircraft proved exceptionally agile low wing loading, although @ same time, cr.42 lacked armour , radio equipment.

during evaluation, cr.42 tested against caproni ca.165 biplane fighter, , judged superior, although ca.165 more modern design boasted higher speed @ cost of maneuverability. although age of biplane coming end number of other air forces expressed interest in new fighter, , number of falcos delivered foreign customers.

soon after combat introduction, fiat developed number of variants. cr.42bis , cr.42ter had increased firepower, cr.42n night fighter, cr.42as optimised ground attack, , cr.42b biposto two-seat trainer.

the biposto extensively modified, longer fuselage allowing second seat placed in tandem. 40 aircraft produced agusta , caproni trento. length increased 68 centimeters on standard fighter, total of 8.94 m; height 23 centimeters less. empty weight 40 kilograms (88 lb) more, wheel fairings had been removed. overall weight 2,300 kg. top speed 430 km/h @ 5,300 meters, 8 km/h less. 1945, 2 machine guns fitted.

experimental configurations included i.cr.42 (idrovolante= seaplane) , cr.42db. beginning in 1938, fiat had worked on i.cr.42, gave task complete project cmasa factory in marina di pisa on tirreno sea coast. prototype built in 1940. tests started @ beginning of 1941, @ vigna di valle base, on lake bracciano, north of rome. top speed 423 km/h, range 950 km while ceiling reduced 9,000 m. empty weight went 1,720 1,850 kilograms (3,790 4,080 lb), full weight 2,295 2,425 kilograms (5,060 5,346 lb).

the cr.42db attempt improve type s performance installing daimler-benz db 601 v12 engine of 753 kw (1,010 hp). prototype, mm 469), flown test pilot valentino cus in march 1941, on guidonia montecelio, near rome. variant reach top speed of 518 km/h (323 mph), maximum ceiling of 10,600 metres (34,777 ft) , range of 1,250 kilometres (780 mi). project cancelled biplane configuration did not offer advantages on contemporary monoplane fighter designs. although never went production, day variant has distinction of being fastest biplane ever flown.

it still not how many cr.42s built. estimate 1,819 in total, including 63 (51 according sources) produced under luftwaffe control , 140 produced export.