Fiat BGA

Summary

The Fiat BGA (Bombardiere di Grande Autonomia) was an aircraft designed by Aldo Guglielmetti of the Italian Air Force.

Fiat BGA
Role Twin-engine medium bomber
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Fiat
Designer Aldo Guglielmetti
First flight 1936
Number built 1

It was built at Pisa by the Fiat subsidiary Costruzioni Meccaniche Aeronautiche SA (CMASA),[1] hence it was also called the CMASA BGA. It was not ordered into production, and only one was built.[1]

Development edit

The BGA was designed by Aldo Guglielmetti to meet a 1934 Italian Air Force requirement for a medium bomber. It first flew in 1936, powered by two Fiat A.80 radial engines.[1] It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear, with the main gear retracting into the engine nacelles.[1] It had twin elliptical fins and rudders, and had a cut-down fuselage to the rear of its ventral and dorsal gun positions.[1]

It did not perform well during testing, was removed from the contest, and only the prototype was produced.[1]

Specifications edit

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Length: 15.73 m (51 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 21.46 m (70 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 4.85 m (15 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 126.5 m2 (1,362 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 6,100 kg (13,448 lb) empty equipped
  • Max takeoff weight: 9,080 kg (20,018 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Fiat A.80 R.C.41 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 750 kW (1,000 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 405 km/h (252 mph, 219 kn)
  • Range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 8,500 m (27,900 ft)

Armament

  • Guns: three 7.7mm (0.303 in) machine-guns
  • Bombs: 1000 kg in fuselage bay

See also edit

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Orbis 1985, pp. 1778-1779

Bibliography edit

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.