Macchi M.C. 201, just another one.

ImportantSimone5 · December 24, 2023, 12:41am

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Macchi M.C.201

History.

In 1938 the Regia Aeronautica needed a new fighter plane to replace the “old” Macchi M.C. 200. The manufacturer of the aircraft, Aermacchi, proposed a new vehicle very similar to the one already available, called Macchi M.C.201. In short it was a C.200 with an improved fuselage, different engine and a closed cockpit. The engine used on the two prototypes was a Fiat A.74 RC.38 with 840 CV, although they wanted to fit a Fiat A.76 RC.40 engine with 1,000 CV. The aircraft flew on 10 August 1940 with not bad results and a maximum speed estimated at 550 km/h, but the problems affecting the A.74 engine meant that the adoption of the aircraft was abandoned, and the two prototypes were scrapped or reconverted to the classic C.200s. The armament and ammunition present in the plane were almost the same, and the plane was not even two hundred kilos heavier than the classic C.200.

Armament and propulsion.

Like almost all Italian fighters of the time, the Macchi 201 was armed with two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted in the nose and firing through the propeller. For each machine gun there was an ammunition reserve equal to that of previous aircraft. In terms of propulsion, the aircraft was powered by an 840 HP Fiat A.74 RC.38 engine which allowed the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of 550 km/h.

Specifications.

Spoiler

Crew: 1
Engine: Fiat A.74 RC.38 da 840 CV
Wingspan: 10,58 m
Length: 8.45 m
Height: 3.51 m
Wing surface area 16.80 m²;
Maximum weight: 2,466 kg
Maximum speed: 550 km/h
Autonomy: 800 km
Practical ceiling: 9,000 m
Armament: 2x 12.7 mm machine guns in the fuselage
Military serial number: MM436

Pictures and drawnings.

Spoiler