Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete

The Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete was an Italian fighter-bomber developed during World War II.

The aircraft was a further development of the Re.2000, with some of the modifications that already had been introduced in the Re.2001.

The aircraft was mainly used by the Regia Aeronautica, it also saw limited use with the German Luftwaffe, who used it against the French resistance.

Variants

1 x Prototype fitted with Re.2005 wings.

18 x Dive bombers.

1 x Prototype fitted with a Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine.

1 x Torpedo bomber prototype.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

8.16 m (26 ft 9 in)

Wingspan

11.0 m (36 ft 1 in)

Height

3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)

Wing area

20.4 m2 (220 sq ft)

Airfoil

N-38

Empty weight

2,390 kg (5,269 lb)

Max take-off weight

3,240 kg (7,143 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Piaggio P.XIX R.C.45 Turbine 14-cylinder air-cooled supercharged radial piston engine, 876 kW (1,175 hp)

Propellers

3-bladed Piaggio constant-speed propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

530 km/h (330 mph, 290 kn) at 5,500 m (18,000 ft)

Cruise speed

400 km/h (250 mph, 220 kn) at 4,500 m (14,800 ft)

Stall speed

120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn) (flaps down)

Range

1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

&

417 km/h (259 mph; 225 kn)

Service ceiling

11,000 m (36,000 ft)

Time to altitude

8 min 48 s to 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

Armament

Guns

2x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns

2x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns

Bombs

650 kg (1,430 lb) on three hardpoints.