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« on: September 20, 2006, 12:57:31 PM »
At the beginning of the war, the Regia Aeronautica (Royal 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 didn´t 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, and the results were good, but the speed didn´t reach allied standards. Further, italian fighters were mostly too weak armed with only two 12,7mm guns. Because the italian industry wasn´t 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 HP, but reached 560km/h.
The S.A.I.207 were mostly built of nonstrategic materials (Wood), 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 750HP Isotta-Fraschini Delta RC40 V-engine and 2.000 orders came in.
They were cancelled after 15, the aircraft has structural problem, the wood panels on the wing were deformed, After a long time parking without adequate recover, because the glues and resins used were not strongh enough.
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