The Fiat G.55 Centauro (centaur).

The Fiat G.55 Centauro (centaur) was an all metal low wing monoplane single seat fighter designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, used by the Italian Air Force in 1943-1945. The Fiat G.55 Centauro configuration included fully-retractable landing gear and a raised cockpit providing an excellent view, with aerodynamically advanced airframe with a structure which was robust and would lend itself to mass production. The first Fiat G.55 Centauro prototype flew on 30 April 1942. The Centauro entered in service with the ANR (Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana) in the Squadriglia Montefusco, in November 1943. Before the armistice of September 1943, G.55s had participated in the defence of Rome with the 353a Squadriglia of the Regia Aeronautica.

Name:
Type:

Fiat G.55 Centauro
Fighter

Fiat G.55 Centauro 3 views

Fiat G.55 Centauro Profiles

Crew:
Maiden flight:
Produced:
Manufacturer:

one pilot
30 April 1942
1943 - 1945
FIAT-Aeritalia

Wartime Operators:

Italy
Regia Aeronautica
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana

Postwar Operators:

Argentina - Argentine Air Force
Egypt - Egyptian Air Force
Italy - Aeronautica Militare
Syria - Syrian Air Force

Giuseppe Gabrielli
274 units

Fiat G.55 Centauro General characteristics

Length:
Wingspan:
Height:
Wing area:

30 ft 9 in (9.37 m)
38 ft 10 in (11.85 m)
10 ft 3¼ in (3.13 m )
227.23 ft² (21.11 m²)

Empty weight:
Loaded weight:
Max takeoff weight:

5,798 lb (2,630 kg)
7,760 lb (3,520 kg)
8,197 lb (3,718 kg)

Powerplant:

1× Fiat R.A 1050 Tifone liquid-cooled inverted V-12, 1,085 kW (1,475 hp)

Fiat G.55 Centauro Performance

Maximum speed:

387 mph, 337 knots (623 km/h) at 22,970 ft (7,000 m)

Range:

1,200 km or 1,650 km with two 100 liter (26.4 US Gal) drop tanks under wings (627 miles, 545 NM (or 1,025 mi, 891 NM with drop tanks ))

Service ceiling:
Combat radius:
Rate of climb:
Wing loading:
Power/mass:

41,830 ft (12,750 m)
746 miles (1200 km)
to 22,970 ft (7,000 m): 8.57 min
34.15 lb/ft² (154.0 kg/m²)
0.190 hp/lb (0.308 kW/kg)

Fiat G.55 Centauro Armament

G.55 Serie 0:

One x 20 mm Mauser MG 151/20 cannon, engine-mounted (250 rounds)
Four x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, two in the upper engine cowling, two in the lower cowling/wing roots. (300 rounds each)

G.55 Serie I:

Three x 20 mm Mauser MG 151/20 cannons, one engine-mounted (250 rounds) and two wing-mounted (200 rounds each)
Two x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the upper engine cowling (300 rounds each)
Provision for two 160 kg (353 lb) bombs on underwing racks. (N.B. Egyptian and Syrian aircraft used Machine guns in the wings instead of cannon.)

Fiat G.55 Centauro variants

variants:

G.55/0
G.55/1

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