Fiat CR.25
CR.25 | |
---|---|
Fiat CR.25 over the Alps c. 1941 | |
Role | Fighter |
Manufacturer | Fiat |
First flight | 22 July 1937 |
Primary user | Regia Aeronautica |
Number built | 12 |
The Fiat CR.25 was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance-fighter aircraft which served in small numbers for the Regia Aeronautica during World War II.
40 CR.25s were ordered (later reduced to ten, the two prototypes and other eight airplanes) after the operative failure of the apparently more promising Breda Ba.88 bomber. Later, it was decided to use the CR.25 as a reconnaissance plane and as escort fighter, with a total of nine aircraft (a prototype and the eight pre-production aircraft) for this role. It was used during the war by the 173a Squadriglia Ricognizione Strategica Terrestre (Strategic Land Reconnaissance Squadron), operating from Sicily. Despite positive reports from the pilots, and a proposal by Fiat to resume production, no further aircraft were produced.
The prototype MM 332, refurbished as personnel transport, was assigned to the Italian embassy in Berlin.)
Variants[]
- CR.25 : Twin-engined reconnaissance bomber aircraft, two prototypes built.
- CR.25bis : Strategic reconnaissance aircraft, long-range escort fighter aircraft, eight preproduction aircraft built.
- CR.25 D : The prototype MM (Matricola Militare) 332 aircraft, redesignated CR.25 D as a transport for the Italian air attaché in Berlin.
- CR.25quater : The CR.25quater, was a more heavily armed version with a slight increase in wing area and 1175 HP engines proposed from FIAT in the spring of 1943. It remained on the drawing tables.
Operators[]
Specifications (CR.25)[]
Data from[citation needed]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 or 3 (a third member was needed for bombing missions)
- Length: 13.56 m (44 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 39.2 m2 (422 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 4,475 kg (9,866 lb)
- Gross weight: 6,625 kg (14,606 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 627 kW (841 hp) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 450 km/h (280 mph, 240 kn)
- Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 7,950 m (26,080 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
- Bombs: Up to 300 kg (661 lb) of bombs
See also[]
Related development
- Breda Ba.88
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiat CR.25. |
- Fiat CR.25
- Garello, GianCarlo. CR 25. Turin: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1997.
- 1930s Italian bomber aircraft
- 1930s Italian patrol aircraft
- Fiat aircraft
- Aircraft first flown in 1937
- Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft