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Technical Specifications

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Historical

The Macchi MC200 was probably the best Italian fighter available at that time and although he did not take part in the fighting in France in 1940, he was present in the Italian Fighting units and therefore has his place on this site.
The aircraft was designed by Mario Castoldi, the famous creator of the Macchi M39 and Macchi M72 seaplanes that shone in the inter-war period.
The Macchi MC200 responds to a contest launched by the Italian authorities in February 1936. One of the key points of the starting specifications is the obligation to use the Fiat engine: the Fiat A.74 RC 38; 870 hp at takeoff for a displacement of 31 liters.
The aircraft wins the competition and a first order of 99 planes is passed by the State. But its unfortunate competitors will not be left behind: the Fiat G50 and Fiat CR42 will each receive an order ... It is the handling and good performance that will dictate the choice of the MC200 by the Régia-Aeronautica. These performances are obtained thanks to a contained weight, but this is done at the cost of the total suppression of the shielding and a reduced autonomy.
The aircraft is an elegant fighter monoplane with low wings of type cantilever, with retractble landing gear and rear caster wheel. It is of metal construction except the rear control surfaces which are interlaced. On the prototype, the cockpit is closed. It is therefore powered by the engine Fiat A.74 RC 38 imposed. This radial engine penalizes aerodynamics from its front surface, but the Fiat Group, very powerful, manages to impose its engine. Mario Castoldi, who wants to be able to use an online engine as on his racing aircraft, will have to wait for the delivery of the German DB601A engine to realize a formidable fighter: the Macchi MC202.
The prototype made its first flight December 24, 1937. The aircraft is performing, but requires fine control: the wing profile retained by Mario Castoldi can generate, in sharp bends, stalls and start spin difficult to catch up. The MC200 reaches 500km / h, despite a hood with complex shapes that is not unlike that of our national fighter Bloch MB152 ... The aircraft is armed with 2 machine guns 12.7 mm only, but the caliber of these weapons the make them much more efficient than the 7.5mm used on French or English planes.
The MC200 began to equip the Italian fighter units from August 1939 and then received its name of "Saetta" (Lightning). Compared to the prototypes, the standard equipment lost the retractable rear wheel and the closed canopy, for a better visibility according to the Italian standards of the time ... But in the first months of use, the delicate stability in tight turns , noticed during the tests, caused two fatal accidents. The 150 aircraft already delivered in units, were therefore prohibited from flying between June 10 and 25, 1940, at the time of the short Campaign of France against Italy. The problem was solved by introducing an evolutionary wing profile along the wing.
It was not until September 1940 that the MC200 had its first battles against the British during the attack on the island of Malta. He proved superior to the Hawker Hurricane he met. He then escorted the Italian bombers during the campaigns of Yugoslavia and Greece in April and June 1941. From September 1941, 4 squadrons of Macchi MC200 were transferred to Russia. The main problem of this aircraft during combat will be the absence of Radio and especially of closed cockpit, especially during the winter, on the Eastern front!
The MC200 was built until September 3, 1943, date of the Armisitice Italo / Allies. 1153 planes were eventually built, the manufacturing being distributed between the Macchi Company (400 copies) and the Breda and SAI-Ambrosini companies.

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