1/05/2011
Warbirdfare
The Macchi C.205 Veltro (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. With a top speed of some 400 mph and equipped with a pair of 20 mm cannon as well as 12.7 mm Breda machine guns, the Macchi C.205 Veltro was highly respected by Allied and Luftwaffe pilots alike. Regarded as the best Italian aircraft of World War II , in action it proved to be extremely effective, destroying a large number of Allied bombers and capable of successfully clashing on equal terms with such renowned fighters as the North American P-51D Mustang.
although the C.205 was able to match the best Allied opponents in speed and maneuverability, it was introduced late in the conflict. Moreover, due to the poor Italian industrial capability of the time, only a small production run was delivered before the end of the war. Like the Spitfire, the Veltro was tricky and thus slow to build.
The C.205 entered production only five months after its maiden flight and began reaching front line units in February 1943. At the end of April, the 1° Stormo, based in Pantelleria, is the first unit to enter action with the C.205, on Mediterranean, escorting maritime and aerial convoys to and from Tunisia. During their first sortie, 22 C.205 clashed with very good results against more numerous formations of Curtiss P.40 and Supermarine Spitfires.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 8.85 m (29 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 10.58 m (34 ft 9 in)
- Height: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 16.80 m² (180.8 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,581 kg (5,690 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,408 kg (7,513 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,900 kg (8,600 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone liquid-cooled supercharged inverted V12 engine, 1,475 hp (1,100 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 640 km/h (345 kn, 400 mph) at 7,500 m (24,600 ft)
- Range: 950 km (515 nmi, 590 mi)
- Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,730 ft)
- Wing loading: 202.9 kg/m² (41.55 lb/ft²)
Armament
- 2 × 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns, 400 rpg, in the nose
- 2 × 20 mm MG 151 cannon, 250 rpg, in the wings
- 2 × 160 kg (350 lb) bombs
** Macchi C.205 Veltro - Warbird Fare
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