Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario
The Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (English: Archer, Sagittarius) was an Italian monoplane fighter and fighter-bomber produced for the Regia Aeronautica during the later years of World War II. Along with the Macchi C.202/C.205 and Fiat G.55, the Reggiane Re.2005 was one of the three Serie 5 Italian fighters. The lines of the fuselage were aerodynamically efficient and the design was intended to exploit the famous Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. The only drawback was a certain structural weakness in the rear section of the fuselage. Only 48 examples had been delivered before the Armistice and these fighters took part in the defence of Naples, Rome and Sicily with the survivors battling above the crumbling ruins of Berlin, in German insignia. Well-respected ace and military observer, Group Captain Duncan Smith, DSO DFC, said that "The Re.2005 was altogether a superb, potent aeroplane".
The Reggiane 2005 was the last of the Reggiane aircraft line to be built during World War II. The project which started in 1941 was carried out by a team led by Roberto Longhi with the designers Alessio, Maraschini, Toniolo and Pozzi. Preliminary work was completed before the end of the year despite being a new project and not the development of an existing design such as the Reggiane Re.2002. The DB 605 engine was waiting to be delivered when the airframe was ready in February 1942. The new machine was not only rated as one of the best Axis wartime aircraft but also one of the best, if not the best-looking. Its semi-elliptical wings, long nose and large tail were all distinctive features of this small, nimble fighter.
The prototype MM.494 first flew 9 May 1942 but the day after, a heavy landing led to an undercarriage failure which caused serious damage and the aircraft was grounded until June (MM.494 was damaged twice more in tests). This prototype had four Breda 12.7 mm machine guns and one Mauser cannon and was primarily used for testing and then for the aerial defense of Naples. After a fierce competition, in which the C.205N was quickly abandoned and the G.55 was considered better from a production point of view (being only marginally inferior as a fighter but much easier to mass produce) the Regia Aeronautica ordered the production of 750 Re.2005 aircraft, an optimistic figure in wartime Italy.
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 873 cm (28 ft 7.7 in) ()
Wingspan: 1,100 cm (36 ft 1.1 in) ()
Height: 315 cm (10 ft 4.0 in) ()
Wing area: 20.4 m2 (219.6 sq ft) ()
Empty weight: 2,600 kg (5,730 lb) ()
Loaded weight: 3,610 kg (7,960 lb) ()
Powerplant: 1 × Fiat R.A. 1050 RC 58 Tifone, (license built DB 605A-1), 1,475 PS (1,085 kW; 1,455 hp) [14] ()
Performance
Never exceed speed: 980 km/h (609 mph)
Maximum speed: ** 628 km/h (390 mph) at 6,950 m (22,800 ft)[15]
Cruise speed: 515 km/h (320 mph)
Stall speed: 155 km/h (96 mph) ()
Range: 980 km (610 mi) on internal fuel (1,130 km (700 mi) w/ 300 L drop tank; 1,270 km (790 mi) w/ 300 L + 2 × 150 L drop tanks)
Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,700 ft) ()
Rate of climb: 20 m/s (3,900 ft/min) (6,000 m in 6.5 min)
Wing loading: max. 177 kg/m2 (36.25 lb/sq ft) ()
Armament
Guns:
2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in upper cowling (350 rpg);
1 × 20 mm MG 151 cannon firing through propeller hub (150 rpg);
2 × 20 mm MG 151 cannon in wings (200 rpg)
Bombs:
Underfuselage (non standard) hardpoint 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bomb or 1 × 300 L (79.3 US gal) drop tank
Hardpoints on wings: 160 kilograms (350 lb) bombs or 2 × 150 litres (39.6 US gal) drop tanks
The Reggiane 2005 was the last of the Reggiane aircraft line to be built during World War II. The project which started in 1941 was carried out by a team led by Roberto Longhi with the designers Alessio, Maraschini, Toniolo and Pozzi. Preliminary work was completed before the end of the year despite being a new project and not the development of an existing design such as the Reggiane Re.2002. The DB 605 engine was waiting to be delivered when the airframe was ready in February 1942. The new machine was not only rated as one of the best Axis wartime aircraft but also one of the best, if not the best-looking. Its semi-elliptical wings, long nose and large tail were all distinctive features of this small, nimble fighter.
The prototype MM.494 first flew 9 May 1942 but the day after, a heavy landing led to an undercarriage failure which caused serious damage and the aircraft was grounded until June (MM.494 was damaged twice more in tests). This prototype had four Breda 12.7 mm machine guns and one Mauser cannon and was primarily used for testing and then for the aerial defense of Naples. After a fierce competition, in which the C.205N was quickly abandoned and the G.55 was considered better from a production point of view (being only marginally inferior as a fighter but much easier to mass produce) the Regia Aeronautica ordered the production of 750 Re.2005 aircraft, an optimistic figure in wartime Italy.
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 873 cm (28 ft 7.7 in) ()
Wingspan: 1,100 cm (36 ft 1.1 in) ()
Height: 315 cm (10 ft 4.0 in) ()
Wing area: 20.4 m2 (219.6 sq ft) ()
Empty weight: 2,600 kg (5,730 lb) ()
Loaded weight: 3,610 kg (7,960 lb) ()
Powerplant: 1 × Fiat R.A. 1050 RC 58 Tifone, (license built DB 605A-1), 1,475 PS (1,085 kW; 1,455 hp) [14] ()
Performance
Never exceed speed: 980 km/h (609 mph)
Maximum speed: ** 628 km/h (390 mph) at 6,950 m (22,800 ft)[15]
Cruise speed: 515 km/h (320 mph)
Stall speed: 155 km/h (96 mph) ()
Range: 980 km (610 mi) on internal fuel (1,130 km (700 mi) w/ 300 L drop tank; 1,270 km (790 mi) w/ 300 L + 2 × 150 L drop tanks)
Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,700 ft) ()
Rate of climb: 20 m/s (3,900 ft/min) (6,000 m in 6.5 min)
Wing loading: max. 177 kg/m2 (36.25 lb/sq ft) ()
Armament
Guns:
2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in upper cowling (350 rpg);
1 × 20 mm MG 151 cannon firing through propeller hub (150 rpg);
2 × 20 mm MG 151 cannon in wings (200 rpg)
Bombs:
Underfuselage (non standard) hardpoint 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bomb or 1 × 300 L (79.3 US gal) drop tank
Hardpoints on wings: 160 kilograms (350 lb) bombs or 2 × 150 litres (39.6 US gal) drop tanks
Comments
Post a Comment