- Yes
- No
The Macchi C.205N-1 was a fighter, designed by Mario Castoldi during the Second World War, of which only one prototype were built. It was the project with which the engineer Castoldi intended to participate in the Competition of the Italian Air Force for Series 5 fighters. In February 1942, the German Daimler-Benz engine became available in Italy DB 605A of 1475 horsepower (1085 kW) at take off. This engine, of which FIAT acquired the construction license as RA 1050 RC58, had been chosen by the military authorities to upgrade a new generation of fighters, the so-called 5 Series. Macchi, similarly to FIAT and Reggiane (which would have produced the G. 55 and the Re.2005 respectively), set the project for a new fighter plane, destined to receivethe new engine, characterized by a wider opening wing and surface compared to that of previous projects, to overcome maneuverability problems at altitudes above 6000 - 7000 meters. Since, however, the construction times of the new fighter were expected to be rather long, and in any case lagging behind those of Fiat and Reggiane, Macchi proposed to the Ministry of the Air Force to adapt the German engine to the cell of the M.C. 202 with a few detailed modifications, obtaining the Macchi C.205V which was immediately put into production. Macchi, in parallel at the start of the production of C. 205V, however, the study of the new aircraft continued which, registered with the military serial number 499 and baptized Orion from the name of the constellation, similarly to the other fighters of the Series 5, it flew for the first time on 1st September from 1942 from the field of Lonate Pozzolo. Piloted by Guido Carestiato, the new fighter reached a top speed of 629 km/h at 7000 m altitude, with a tangent height of 11500 m. and an ascent time of 8000m of 9’25 ‘’. Macchi C. 205 N-1 armament was also noteworthy and consisted of one 20 mm gun Mauser MG 151/20 (ammunition 400 shells) mounted in the fuselage and firing through the hollow hub of the propeller, and four 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, of which two mounted above the fuselage side by side (ammunition of 400 rounds per barrel), and two more above the root parts of the wing (ammunition of 300 rounds per barrel).The specimen was then transferred to Guidonia for military assessment tests. In my opinion the Macchi C.205N-1 must be added because it has to complete the line of “C.205” which have been the most fighters representative of the “Regia Aeronautica” during WWII.
Specifications - Performance:
Spoiler
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 11,25m
Left half-wing opening: 4,7 m
Right half-wing opening: 4,76m
Length: 9,55m
Height: 3,25m
Wing area: 19,00m²
Wing loading: 190,68 kg/m²
Weight empty plane: 2695kg
Weight normal take off: 3621kg
Engine: Fiat RA.1050 RC 58 Tifone 12 cylinder V liquid-cooled
Horsepower: 1475 (1 085 kW)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 628km/h
Cruising speed: 536km/h
Practical range: 950km
Rate of climb: 1471m/min
Practical ceiling: 11250m
Armament:
1 x 20mm Mauser MG-151 cannon (250 rounds)
2 x 12, mm Breda-Safat machine guns mounted above the fuselage side by side (400 rpg)
2 x 12,7mm Breda-Safat machine guns mounted above the root parts of the wing (300 rpg)
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