The Fiat G.55 Centauro is a monoplane fighter aircraft featuring a single engine and a single seat, designed and manufactured by the Italian company Fiat Aviazione.
It was utilised by both the Regia Aeronautica and the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana in the latter part of the Second World War.
The G.55 was designed and manufactured at Fiat’s facility in Turin.
A significant characteristic was its incorporation of an inline engine, which was a licensed replica of the German Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine, as opposed to the commonly preferred radial engine.
It was equipped with various combinations of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons and 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns.
Consequently, the fighter was relatively powerful, fast, and durable.
The prototype G.55 conducted its first flight on 30 April 1942; after demonstrating its capabilities during competitive evaluations, the fighter commenced mass production and entered squadron service in the subsequent year.
Active primarily in the latter stages of the conflict, most of its operational service occurred after the Armistice of 8 September 1943, and it was mainly operated by the Repubblica Sociale Italiana.
Efforts during the war to enhance the G.55 led to the development of the G.56, which utilised the larger and more powerful German Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine; however, it is believed that the G.56 variant was never produced in significant numbers.
Although Italian fighter pilots generally held the Centauro in high regard, by the conclusion of the conflict, fewer than 300 units had been manufactured.
In contrast, the Germans produced 35,000 Bf 109s.
Even though it was available in limited quantities, the G.55 established itself as an outstanding high-altitude interceptor over Northern Italy; throughout 1944, the Centauro frequently engaged with British Supermarine Spitfires, P-51 Mustangs, P-47 Thunderbolts, and P-38 Lightnings, demonstrating its capability as a formidable opponent.
The G.55 is often regarded as the finest aircraft produced in Italy during World War II.
In 1943, following comparative evaluations against the Messerschmitt Bf 109G and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Luftwaffe officials proclaimed that the Fiat G.55 was “the best Axis fighter” available at that moment.
Variants
G.55
3 prototypes.
G.55/0
16 pre-production aircraft.
G.55/1
Initial production aircraft.
G.55/2
Bomber interceptor version.
G.55/S
Torpedo attack aircraft variant.
S is for ‘silurante’, meaning ‘torpedo’.
G.55/A,B
Single-seat/twin-seat trainer versions were developed after the conflict.
G.56
2 prototypes with 1,300 kW (1,750 hp) Daimler-Benz DB 603A engines.
Specifications
Crew
One
Length
9.37 m (30 ft 9 in)
Wingspan
11.85 m (38 ft 11 in)
Height
3.13 m (10 ft 3 in) excluding radio antenna mast
Wing area
21.11 m² (227.2 sq ft)
Airfoil
Root
NACA 2415
Tip
NACA 2409
Empty weight
2,630 kg (5,798 lb)
Gross weight
3,520 kg (7,760 lb)
Max takeoff weight
3,718 kg (8,197 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine,
1,085 kW (1,455 hp) (license-built Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1)
Propellers
3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
623 km/h (387 mph, 336 kn)
Range
1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
Ferry range
1,650 km (1,030 mi, 890 nmi) with 2 x 100 L (26 US gal; 22 imp gal) drop-tanks
Service ceiling
12,750 m (41,800 ft)
Time to altitude
6,000 m (20,000 ft) in five minutes and 50 seconds
7,000 m (23,000 ft) in eight minutes and 34 seconds
Wing loading
154 kg/m² (32 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.308 kW/kg (0.187 hp/lb)
Armament
G.55 Series 0
1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Mauser MG 151/20 cannon, engine-mounted (250 rounds)
4 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns, two in the upper engine cowling, two in the lower cowling/wing roots (300 rpg)
G.55 Serie I
3 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20s, one engine-mounted (250 rounds) and two wing-mounted (200 rpg)
2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the upper engine cowling (300 rpg)
Provision for 2 × 160 kg (350 lb) bombs on underwing racks
(N.B. Egyptian and Syrian aircraft used machine guns in the wings instead of cannons.)
G.56
3 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20s, one engine-mounted (300 rounds) and two wing-mounted (250 rpg).
