The Ambrosini SAI.207 was a lightweight fighter-interceptor developed in Italy during World War II.
Derived from the pre-war SAI.7 racing aircraft, it featured an entirely wooden construction and was powered by a 750 hp Isotta Fraschini Delta engine.
While a pre-production batch of 12 aircraft underwent evaluation, the SAI.207 ultimately saw limited success.
Development The SAI.207 evolved from the Ambrosini SAI.7 racing monoplane, following successful tests of its prototype light fighter concept.
Designed by Sergio Stefanutti, the aircraft prioritised lightweight construction and minimal armament, enabling lower-powered engines without compromising performance.
The first three prototypes were built and flown by autumn 1940, with identical dimensions to the SAI.7 except for its increased length.
Initially powered by a 540 hp Isotta Fraschini Gamma engine, the SAI.107 prototype demonstrated excellent manoeuvrability, reaching a speed of 563 km/h (350 mph) during trials at Guidonia research facility.
Tragically, this aircraft was lost in a fatal crash on July 18, 1941, claiming the life of Arturo Ferrarin.
Two additional fighter prototypes followed, flying in spring 1941 and 1942.
Design The SAI.207 was a single-seat, low-wing monoplane with a conventional tail-wheel undercarriage, retaining the lightweight wooden construction of its predecessor.
It was powered by a 751 hp Isotta Fraschini Delta R.C.40 inverted-V engine, equipped with a centreline cooling air intake.
The fighter’s armament comprised two fuselage-mounted 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns.
In level flight, the SAI.207 proved to be remarkably fast, achieving 580 km/h (360 mph) and exceeding 800 km/h (497 mph) in a dive.
This performance led the Ministero dell’Aeronautica to order 2,000 units, alongside 12 pre-production aircraft for operational trials.
However, following mixed results and the Armistice in 1943, no further production took place.
Operational History Flight testing uncovered significant shortcomings, many of which remained unresolved before Italy’s 1943 Armistice with the Allies.
Issues included poor climb rate due to high wing loading, overheating of rear engine cylinders during dive recovery, and structural weaknesses that prevented the use of higher-powered armament.
The lightweight wooden frame suffered additional problems, including moisture damage and catastrophic failures, one prototype’s wing disintegrated during dive recovery due to pressure build-up.
Despite these challenges, the 12 pre-production aircraft briefly saw service with three squadrons.
The first, 83rd Squadriglia, 18 Gruppo, 3 Stormo, was commanded by ace pilot Guglielmo Specker at Cerveteri airfield, near Rome.
The aircraft entered combat in July 1943, engaging Allied bombing raids over Italy, but failed to deliver notable successes.
After a month, the squadron relocated to Castiglione del Lago, where plans were made to integrate them into 161st and 162nd Squadriglia.
Despite its high speed, Italian pilots found the SAI.207 unremarkable, and its service life swiftly ended in summer 1943.
The remaining aircraft from 83rd Squadriglia were returned to SAI-Ambrosini for refurbishment, but the Armistice halted further use, sealing its fate as an experimental design rather than a frontline fighter.
