C.200 Saetta
| Country | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Aeronautica Macchi |
| Primary Role | Fighter |
| Maiden Flight | 24 December 1937 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
The C.200 Saetta ("Arrow") fighters were designed as a response to the Italian Air Force's (Regia Aeronautica) need for a modern fighter. In 1938, the contract was won with an order of 99 aircraft, and by Oct 1939 they have entered service. In the fall of 1940, one of their first combat missions was to escort bombers in sorties against Malta. C.200 fighters were also used in Greece, North Africa, and later against the Russians during Operation Barbarossa. Though the C.200 design was considered obsolete by 1942 after the introduction of C.202, production continued due to demands. By the end of production, 1,153 were produced.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.
Last Major Revision: Sep 2006
C.200 Saetta Timeline
| 24 Dec 1937 | The Maachi C.200 Saetta (Lightning) aircraft made its maiden flight in prototype form. Designed by Dr. Mario Castoldi, the C.200 Saetta was the first monoplane fighter with fully-retractable undercarriage and enclosed cockpit to enter service with the Italian Air Force. |
SPECIFICATIONS
C.200
| Machinery | One Fiat A.74 RC38 radial engine rated at 838 hp |
| Armament | 2x12.7mm Breda machine guns |
| Crew | 1 |
| Span | 10.58 m |
| Length | 8.40 m |
| Wing Area | 16.70 m² |
| Weight, Empty | 1,770 kg |
| Weight, Loaded | 2,200 kg |
| Weight, Maximum | 2,395 kg |
| Speed, Maximum | 504 km/h |
| Rate of Climb | 15.30 m/s |
| Service Ceiling | 10,060 m |
| Range, Normal | 570 km |
Photographs
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Visitor Submitted Comments
26 Dec 2011 11:28:26 PM
Saetta means "Dart" not Lightning
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
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Winston Churchill, 1935
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7 Jan 2011 07:25:27 PM
Macchi MC.200 prototype first flight was on December 24, 1937.
The MC200 was armed w/2x12.7mm machine guns
with 370 rpg, used as a fighter bomber with
underwing hardpoints for bombs.
About 1,200 fighters had been built by 1943
Operated by the Regia Aeronautica and supported Italian and German forces, until Italy surrendered in September 1943.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
After WWII the survivors were used as trainers until retired in 1947. Today only two MC200s are known to have survived. One is on display at the USAF Museum located in Dayton, Ohio USA
The other was restored in 1989 by Aermacchi this aircraft might be part of the Collection
at the New England Air Museum, located at
Bradly International Airport, Windsor Locks,
Connecticut, USA.