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Ambrosini SAI.403 Dardo

The Ambrosini SAI.403 Dardo was a light fighter aircraft built in Italy during World War II.

SAI.403 Dardo was a considerably refined version of the SAI.207, designed during the delays in that type’s development.

The improvements induced the Ministero dell’ Aeronautica in 1943 to cancel its order for 2,000 of the SAI.207 so as to order 3,000 of the SAI.403 instead.

Apart from the fighter’s superlative performance, its all-wood construction was attractive at a time when Italy was facing a shortage of strategic materials.

However, by the time of the Armistice, the first of these was yet to leave the factory.

The single prototype (MM.518) was seized by the Germans and evaluated by the Luftwaffe at Vergiate.

Japanese pilots then stationed in Germany were also given a chance to fly the aircraft, with the result that it was ordered into production by both Heinkel and Mitsubishi.

None of these flew before the end of the war either.

Variants

SAI.403A

Point defence fighter (gross weight 2,478 kg/5,460 lb) armed with 2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns.

SAI.403B

Standard fighter (gross weight 2,643 kg/5,830 lb) armed with 2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and 2 × 15 mm MG 151/15 cannons or 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 guns.

SAI.403C

Long-range fighter with 2 × 20 mm cannons and an extra 110 l (29 US gal; 24 imp gal) internal fuel with 2x 150 l (40 US gal; 33 imp gal) drop tanks for a total range of 2,320 km (1,440 mi).

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)

Wingspan

9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)

Height

2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)

Wing area

14.46 m2 (155.6 sq ft)

Empty weight

1,893 kg (4,173 lb)

Max take off weight

2,643 kg (5,827 lb)

Fuel capacity

300 l (79 US gal; 66 imp gal)

(Dardo-A / -B)

410 l (110 US gal; 90 imp gal) with 2 150 l (40 US gal; 33 imp gal) drop tanks

(Dardo-C)

Powerplant

1 × Isotta-Fraschini Delta R.C.21/60 Serie I-IV, inverted air cooled V-12 piston engine,

560 kW (750 hp)

Propellers

3 bladed constant speed propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

648 km/h (403 mph, 350 kn) at 7,200 m (23,600 ft)

Cruise speed

490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn)

Range

935 km (581 mi, 505 nmi)

Ferry range

2,320 km (1,440 mi, 1,250 nmi) with drop tanks (Dardo-C)

Service ceiling

12,135 m (39,813 ft)

Rate of climb

15.9 m/s (3,130 ft/min)

Time to altitude

6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 6 minutes 40 seconds

Armament

Guns

2× fuselage mounted 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns 

(Dardo-A)

2× fuselage mounted 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns

&

2× wing mounted 15 mm (0.591 in) MG 151/15 cannon

Or

20 mm (0.787 in) MG 151/20 cannon 

(Dardo-B)

2× wing mounted 20 mm (0.787 in) MG 151/20 cannon 

(Dardo-C)

 

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