Macchi MC202 Folgore (Lightning)
Type: Single-seat fighter plane.
History: Essentially a re-engined Saetta, the MC202 Folgore was much more powerful and after quick and painless development went into producti on (first by Breda) in late 1940.
A Macchi Folgore on an airfield in North Africa.
Armament remained two 12.7-mm BredaSAFAT above the engine and two 7.7-mm Breda-SAFAT in the wings, plus two bombs up to 3531b (160kg) or fuel tanks. From the outset the cockpit was completely enclosed, opposition to this having finally withered. Up to Serie VIII many aircraft had no wing guns, while at least one Serie had two 20mm Mauser MG 151/20 in underwing fairings. About 1,500 were built by 1943, 392 by Macchi, achieving complete superiority over the Hawker Hurricane and Curtiss P-40.
An Macchi MC202 Serie III. These were among the best fighters of the war, though available only in trivial numbers.
The more powerful Macchi C205V Veltro flew on 19 April 1942, but pathetic industrial performance (on engine as well as airframe) limited output to 262. The 205 Serie III dropped the 7.7mm wing guns in favour of MG
151/20s.
A ground crewman is talking with the pilot of a MC202 in 1943.
The MC205N was a total structural redesign instead of a converted 200, the first flying on 1 November 1942 with one MG 151/20 and four 12.7mm, two in the wing roots. It was an outstanding machine, retaining all the agility of earlier Macchi fighters, and the 205N-2 added powerful armament with two more MG 151/20 instead of the wing-root 12.7mm. None reached service.
Users: Italy
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Wartime colour photograph of a Macchi MC202 Folgore taxiing out along a newly prepared taxiway. A ground-crewman rides on each wing, standard practice with poor-vision fighters.
Macchi MC202 Folgore |
| Type |
fighter |
| Power plant |
one 1175 hp Alfa Romeo RA1000 RC41-I (license-produced German DB 601A-1) inverted-vee-12 engine |
| Accommodation |
1 |
| Wing span |
34 ft 8 1/2 in |
| Length overall |
29 ft 0 1/2 in |
| Height overall |
9 ft 11 1/2 in |
| Weight empty |
5,181 lb |
| Weight loaded |
6,636 lb |
| Max level speed |
370 mph |
| Service ceiling |
36,000 ft |
| Armament |
two 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT above engine, from Serie VIII on two 7,7mm Breda-SAFAT in wings.
One series with two additional 20mm Mauser MG 151/20 in underwing fairings.
Two bombs or
fuel tanks up to 353 lb |
| First flight (prototype) |
10.August 1940
|
| Service delivery |
July 1941 |
| Final delivery |
early 1944 |
| Total production figure |
1,100
(plus 400 MC.205) |
3d model of Macchi MC202 Folgore
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