Macchi C.205 Veltro

Video taken at the "Vigna di Valle" museum, north of Rome.
Grazie Marco per il grande cellulare usato per le riprese!


From wikipedia:
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The Macchi C.205 (also known as the MC[Macchi Castoldi].205) Veltro (Italian: Greyhound) was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. Along with the Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55, the Macchi C.205 was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. The C.205 was a development of the earlier C.202 Folgore.

Although the definitive Macchi fighter, able to match the best Allied opponents in speed and maneuverability, the C.205 Veltro was introduced late in the conflict. Due to poor industrial capability, only a small production run of the C.205 fighter was delivered before the end of the war.

Design and development

In 1941, seeking to further improve the performance of the C.202 fighter, the Regia Aeronautica decided to license-build the German DB 605 1,100 kW (1,475 hp) liquid-cooled supercharged inverted V-12 engine in Italy, which Fiat produced as the RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone (Typhoon). Fighter manufacturers were invited to enter versions of their designs with this engine as the caccia della serie 5 ("series-5 fighter") and were provided with imported DB 605s for prototype use. All of the designs used the number 5 in the name, with the Macchi becoming the C.205 (instead of C.202bis or C.203).

Macchi used the DB 601 engine in the C.202 which was comparable to the DB 605. The C.205V Veltro first flew on 19 April 1942, and was considered a stop-gap with the definitive variant being the 205N Orione (N stood for "new"). In testing, the Fiat G.55 Centauro and Re.2005 Sagittario proved to be better performers at high altitude due to their larger wings. In fact, the Veltro used the same wing as the earlier Folgore but its weight had increased from 2,350 to 3,408 kg (5,180 to 7,515 lb) and the wing loading from 142 to 203 kg/m² (29 to 41 lb/ft²). The Veltro's performance was similar to German designs with their higher wing loading, and was at its best at medium altitudes where it could reach 642 km/h (347 knots, 399 mph). The C.205 Veltro was placed in production until the G.55 and the Re.2005 would become available.

The first 100 Veltro Serie I were only machine gun-armed, but many were also fitted with the MG 151 cannon. There were no Serie II built, but 150 Serie III examples were ordered, which were fitted with guns in the wings as standard.

The necessity to re-engineer the forward fuselage was time-consuming, but after several months of delays, the "205N" was ready. The C.205N1 first flew on 1 November 1942, with armament consisting of a 20 mm cannon firing through the propeller hub, and four cowling-mounted 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns for which it carried 300-400 and 1,400 rounds of ammunition respectively. This configuration allowed a higher ceiling, but less speed (629 km/h), however, the better aerodynamics (with a longer and more streamlined rear fuselage) provided an overall advantage over the Macchi C.205V/MG151 (620 km/h).

The maiden flight of the second aircraft, the C.205N2, took place on 19 May 1943, and in testing reached 628 km/h (340 knots, 390 mph) which was only marginally slower than the C.205N1 with a correspondingly longer time to reach its operational altitude. It was equipped with one engine-mounted 20 mm cannon, two wing-mounted 20 mm cannon, and two fuselage-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns. The ammunition load comprised 600 or more rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, and a maximum of around 900 x 20 mm rounds which was much heavier than that carried by the C.205N1, and to a lesser extent that of the Reggiane and the Fiat which carried 490-550 and 650 x 20 mm rounds respectively. Although 1,200 aircraft were initially ordered, the design was abandoned due to the Armistice.

The N-series aircraft should have performed better than the C.205V, but Macchi test pilot Carestiano noted that their flying characteristics were inferior to the lighter and more agile C.205 Veltro. The later series also experienced overheating while in climbs.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Macchi
• Aermacchi
• 200
• 202
• 205
• Saetta
• Folgore
• Veltro
• Regia
• Aeronautica
• Italian
• Air
• Force
• Castoldi
• warbird
• fighter
• ww2

[aerodc8]

Typically Italian - belissimo - beautiful.

[Rob167312]

Fantastico aereo, secondo molti esperti fu lui il migliore aereo da combattimento della seconda guerra mondiale. Velocissimo e sopratutto maneggevole, era il terrore dell'aviazione anglo-americana, costruito in modo artiginale, aveva una potenza di fuoco impressionante. Se la regia areonautica avesse avuto a disposizione questa meravigli tecnologica dal 1940, avremmo perso con più onore

[TheDarwiniser]

apparently it was a pretty good aircraft, fast and good manners.

perhaps lightly armed.

[Ahrimancp]

Too bad no Re. 2005's survived.

[af62250]

Great plane that came too late

[Quillons1]

@JDSFLA I would have a hard time comparing this fighter, good as it is, to the P 51D or the Fw 190D. GREAT plane but I tihnk going by numbers those two outclassed it in every arena.

[blupampurio]

@Rob167312 Se è per questo, guarda che il Fiat G55, dai tedeschi ritenuto il nostro miglior caccia, era

pronto dal '42, ma i vertici Fiat, e non Mussolini, preferirono per motivi aziendali(a cui non erano estranee

pressioni che qui sarebbe lungo spiegare) continuare a produrre il CR 42 per i nostri poveri piloti! Saluti

[JDSFLA]

Beautiful fighter that was as good or better than any other propeller powered WW2 fighter. Only a small quantity were made before Italy capitulated. Used the excellent German Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine.

[jamieandnici]

I love the various Italian WW2 camouflage patterns that they incorporated on their fighters and bombers. Great resource for model makers. Thanks.

[mattpbent]

lovely aircraft -nice livery

[Intifadark]

@COMBATTENTE83 A parte la terribile povertà di materie prime e di industria (anche avendo buoni progettisti, certe cose non ce le si può inventare purtroppo) una piaga che anche allora investiva l'italia e le FFAA erano sprechi e tangenti. Esattamente come oggi. Fu così coi mezzi, con le mitragliatrici, con gli equipaggiamenti individuali. Già avevamo pochi fondi, poi usandoli pure a cazzo, i risultati si sono visti subito, allo scoppio della guerra.