Breda_Ba.27 Knowpia

Ba.27
	Metallico
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Breda
First flight	1933
Primary user	Chinese Nationalist Air Force
Number built	14
Variants	Breda Ba.65

The Breda Ba.27 was a fighter produced in Italy in the 1930s, used by the Chinese Nationalist Air Force in the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Design and development edit

The Ba.27 was a low-wing braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. As originally designed, the Ba.27 had a fuselage of steel tube construction, skinned with light corrugated alloy metal, and wooden wings and tailplane. Evaluation of the two prototypes by the Regia Aeronautica in 1933 was strongly negative, resulting in an extensive redesign of the aircraft. The fuselage shape was made more rounded and the pilot's open cockpit was moved higher and forward to improve visibility. The corrugated skinning was also replaced with smooth sheet metal.

A prototype of this revised version, known as the Metallico, was first flown in June 1934, but Regia Aeronautica's appraisal was only a little more positive.

Operational history edit

Despite the lack of domestic interest, the type was ordered by the Republic of China for use against Japan. Out of eighteen machines ordered, only eleven were actually delivered.

Variants edit

Ba.27: Initial prototype, two built.
Ba.27 Metallico: Second improved version, twelve built.

Operators edit

China

Chinese Nationalist Air Force received eleven aircraft.

Specifications (Metallico) edit

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Length: 7.67 m (25 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 10.80 m (35 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 18.9 m² (203 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,320 kg (2,910 lb)
Gross weight: 1,850 kg (4,078 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo Mercurius radial engine , 403 kW (540 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 380 km/h (236 mph, 205 kn)
Range: 750 km (466 mi, 405 nmi)
Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,530 ft)
Rate of climb: 11.1 m/s (2,180 ft/min)

Armament

2 × fixed, forward-firing 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns

References edit

Bibliography edit

Soulard, Stéphane (May 1995). "Le Breda 27 (2^e partie): Le Breda 27 en Chine" [The Breda 27 in China]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (26): 30–32. ISSN 1243-8650.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 195.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 77.