From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the aircraft. For the diesel engine, see
Fiat AN.1
.
The
Fiat AN.1
was an Italian two-seat
biplane
from 1930, best known as a demonstrator of
Fiat
's first
aircraft diesel engine
, also named the
Fiat AN.1
.
Design and development
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The AN.1 was a two-seat
reconnaissance aircraft
built primarily to explore the suitability of diesel engines for tasks requiring long distance flying. In the early 1930s, diesel engines seemed to offer several advantages in such situations, particularly better reliability because of greater mechanical simplicity and lower fuel consumption, because of greater thermodynamic efficiency. Additionally, heavy oil fuel posed no fire risk and was at the time a fifth the price of petrol.
[1]
The AN.1 used a Fiat-built engine of the same name, much of which was based on the
Fiat A.12
petrol engine, but with a new
compression ignition
upper half. It was a conventional biplane design, though little is known of its details. It first flew in 1930.
[1]
[2]
Operational history
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After some short test flights at Fiat's
Turin
works, the AN.1 made its first long-distance flight to
Rome
, a distance of about 510 km (315 mi), piloted by
Renato Donati
in June 1930. This took it to
Littorio Airport
for an appearance on the first day of the Aerial Pageant.
[3]
Specifications
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Data from
Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945
[2]
General characteristics
- Crew:
two
- Length:
8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan:
11.24 m (36 ft 11 in)
- Height:
2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
- Wing area:
40.48 m
2
(435.7 sq ft)
- Empty weight:
1,309 kg (2,886 lb)
- Gross weight:
1,597 kg (3,520 lb)
- Powerplant:
1 ×
Fiat AN.1
Six-cylinder inline water-cooled Diesel, 160 kW (220 hp) maximum at 1,700 rpm
Performance
- Maximum speed:
204 km/h (127 mph, 110 kn)
- Endurance:
3 hr 30 min
- Service ceiling:
5,190 m (17,040 ft)
References
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