From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BR
|
|
Fiat BR
|
Role
|
Bomber
Type of aircraft
|
Manufacturer
|
Fiat
|
Designer
|
Celestino Rosatelli
|
First flight
|
1919
|
Number built
|
>250
|
The
Fiat B.R. 1/4
was a
light bomber
series, developed in
Italy
shortly after
World War I
.
Design and development
[
edit
]
The B.R was a development of the
SIA 9
reconnaissance aircraft
, incorporating major strengthening of that design. Its general layout was identical to its predecessor: a two-bay
biplane
with tandem, open
cockpits
for pilot and observer, and
tailskid undercarriage
. Shortly after entering service with the
Regia Aeronautica
, however, Rosatelli developed an improved version using the
Warren truss
-style bracing that would become a hallmark of his designs over the next decade.
The B.R. was evolved into a number of increasingly capable variants; however, by the time the later members of the family were produced, 15 years had passed since the initial design, and the type was already obsolete. At its peak, the BR equipped 15 light bomber squadrons of the
Regia Aeronautica
. Two examples were also exported to Sweden, and one to Hungary.
In 1922, a specially modified BR designated the
R.700
was used to set the absolute world airspeed record at 336 km/h (210 mph). The same aircraft was used to contest the
Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe
in September that year.
Variants
[
edit
]
- B.R.
- initial production version with
Fiat A.14
engine and conventional struts
- B.R.1
- improved version with new radiator and landing gear, and Warren truss struts (150 built)
- B.R.2
- strengthened structure, new landing gear, and
Fiat A.25
engine
- R.22
- reconnaissance aircraft of which two prototypes and 23 production versions were built. Although resembling the BR.2 it was of smaller dimensions and the wing and fuselage structures were all-metal. All examples flown by Regia Aeronautica with
Fiat A.22
engine
- B.R.3
- new landing gear, fitted with radio and panoramic camera and (in later versions) Handley Page-type
slats
(100 built)
- B.R.4
- substantial redesign with revised aerodynamics, new landing gear, and new radiator arrangement (one built)
- R.700
- racer for world airspeed record attempt
Operators
[
edit
]
-
Hungary
-
Kingdom of Italy
-
Sweden
-
China
Specifications (B.R.2)
[
edit
]
General characteristics
- Crew:
two, pilot and observer
- Length:
10.66 m (35 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan:
17.30 m (56 ft 9 in)
- Height:
3.91 m (12 ft 10 in)
- Wing area:
70.2 m
2
(756 sq ft)
- Empty weight:
2,646 kg (5,833 lb)
- Gross weight:
4,195 kg (9,248 lb)
- Powerplant:
1 ×
Fiat A.25
, 813 kW (1,090 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed:
240 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
- Range:
1,000 km (621 mi, 540 nmi)
- Service ceiling:
6,250 m (20,500 ft)
- Rate of climb:
4.2 m/s (830 ft/min)
Armament
- 1 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in)
Vickers machine gun
- 1 × trainable, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in)
Lewis Gun
- 720 kg (1,590 lb) of bombs
See also
[
edit
]
Related lists
References
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Fiat B.R.
.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).
Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation
. London: Studio Editions. p. 383.
- Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aviation
. London: Aerospace Publishing. p. 1800.
- World Aircraft Information Files
. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 894 Sheet 18.
- Hirschauer, Louis; Dollfus, Charles, eds. (1920).
L'Annee Aeronautique: 1919-1920
. Paris: Dunod. p. 45.
|
---|
Attack aircraft (
A
)
| |
---|
Bombers (
B
)
| |
---|
Army aeroplanes (
Fpl
)
| |
---|
Gliders (
G
/
Lg
/
Se
)
| |
---|
Helicopter (
Hkp
)
| |
---|
Fighters (
J
)
| |
---|
Advanced trainers (
O
)
| |
---|
Trials aircraft (
P
)
| |
---|
Reconnaissance (
S
)
| |
---|
Trainers (
Sk
)
| |
---|
Torpedo bombers (
T
)
| |
---|
Transports (
Trp/Tp
)
| |
---|