Italy's Macchi MC.202; Macchi M.C. 202; Macchi C.202 fighter
Nickname: Folgore "Thunderbolt"
Photos
Macchi MC.202 Folgore fighter:  |
Macchi MC.202 Folgore fighter:  Mark Holloway |
Macchi MC.202 Folgore fighter:  |
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Macchi MC 202 fighter and MC.200 fighter: |
Macchi MC 202 fighter, Part 1: |
Macchi MC 202 fighter, Part 2: |
Design
The Macchi MC.202 Folgore "Thunderbolt" was designed by Mario Castoldi.1,2,4 The design can traced back to the Macchi float planes that competed in the Schneider Trophy Races in the 1930s.1
The C.202 was a reengineered MC.200 with a modified fuselage and an Alfa Romero engine.3,5
The M.C.202 was the first Italian military plane to have a liquid cooled engine.4
Cockpit
The nose of the MC.202 Folgore was long and proved to make it hard to maneuver on the ground while taxing.1
The pilot did have armor protecting him.1 The cockpit of the C.202 was completely enclosed.3
Engines
The Daimler-Benz 601A equipped 400 C.202s as the engine was imported.3,4,5
The Alfa Romeo RA engine was a licensed built Daimler-Benz DB 601.1,2,3,4 It drove a variable pitch propellar.1
The engine's radiator was located under the engine.1
Production of the engine is what slowed the manufacturing of the MC.202.5
Wings
When the hydraulically operated flaps were put down the ailerons also lowered.1 This helped the MC.202 be more maneuverable at low speeds.1
The wings were all metal with fabric on the control surfaces.1
Fuselage
The fuselage was all metal.1
Tail
The tail of the MC.202 was all metal with fabric covering the control surfaces.1
The tail wheel was retractable.1
Undercarriage
The undercarriage retracted inwards.2,5
Prototype
The first prototype flew on August 10, 1940 by Mario Castoldi5.1,3,4,5 It used an imported Daimler-Benz 601A engine.3
Production
Macchi built 3922,5 / 393 of the MC.202s out of a total of 1,500 produced.1,2 The C.202s were built until 1944.3
- Total: >1,1004, ~1,2003, ~1,5001,2,5
- Manufactured by: Macchi1,3, Aeronautica Macchi S.p.A.4, Breda1,3, SAI-Ambrosini1,3 , Saetta1
Variants
- Macchi M.C.202:
- Macchi M.C.202AS: Tropicalized version.3
- Macchi M.C.202CB: Fighter bomber version.1,2 Carried two 700/7053 lb / 320 kg bombs under the wings.1,3
Usage
Regia Aeronautica first received the C.202s in July 1941.3
With the M.C.202s performance and ease of handling it was found to be the equal of Allied fighters of the time.4 Unfortunately, its weakness was that it wasn't heavily armed.4 It started with two 12.7 mm machine guns firing through the propeller and later models added two machine guns in the wings.4
Units
A total of 19 groups / 45 Squadriglie5 had the C.202s.3 The first being the 1° Stormo that received them at Udine in the summer of 1941.5 They were moved to Libya in November 1941.5
- Stormi: 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 51°, 52°, 53°, and 54°2,5
North Africa
The MC.202 Folgore was first used in Libya in November 1941.1,4,5
Eastern Front
The MC.202 Folgore's first appeared on the Eastern Front in September 1942.1
After World War II
The M.C.202s were used as trainers until 1948.4
Specifications
| Macchi MC.202 Folgore1, Macchi C.202 Folgore3, Macchi M.C. 2024 | Macchi C.202 Series IX Folgore2,5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,3,4, Fighter bomber1 | Fighter2,5 |
| Crew | 11,4 | 12,5 |
| Engine (Type) | Alfa Romeo RA.1000 RC 41-I Monsone piston1,3, Daimler Benz DB 601 A-14 | Alfa Romeo RA 1000 RC 411 piston2,5 |
| Cylinders | RC 41: Inverted V 121,3 DB 601: V-124 |
Inverted V 125, Inline2 |
| Cooling | DB 601: Liquid4 | |
| HP | RC 41: 1,1751,3 DB 601: 1,1754 |
1,0752,5 |
| Propeller blades | 31, 3 variable pitch3 | 32 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 34' 8"1, 34' 8.5"3, 34' 9"4 10.58 m1,3 |
34' 8.5"2,5 10.58 m2,5 |
| Length | 29' 0.5"3, 29' 1"4, 29' 3" 8.85 m1,3 |
29' 0.4"5, 29' 1.5"2 8.85 m2,5 |
| Height | 9' 11"4, 9' 11.5"3, 10'1 3.03 m3, 3.04 m1 |
11' 5.5"2, 11' 5.8"5 3.5 m2,5 |
| Wing area | 181 ft2 1 16.8 m2 1 |
180.8 ft2 2,5 16.8 m2 2,5 |
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 5,170 lb1, 5,545 lb3 2,350 kg1, 2,515 kg3 |
5,489 lb2 2,490 kg2 |
| Loaded | 6,480 lb4, 6,620 lb1, 6,766 lb3 3,010 kg1, 3,069 kg3 |
6,459 lb2 2,930 kg2 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed @ 15,000' / 4,750 m |
370 mph1 596 kph1 |
|
| Speed @ 18,050' | 373 mph4 | |
| Speed @ 18,370' / 5,600 m |
372 mph3 598 kph3 |
|
| Speed @ 18,373' / 5,600 m |
373 mph5 600 kph5 |
|
| Speed @ 18,375' / 5,600 m |
373 mph2 600 kph2 |
|
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
2.5 minutes3 | |
| Climb to 16,404' / 5,000 m |
4.6 minutes5 | |
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
4.6 minutes2 | |
| Climb to 19,685' / 6,000 m |
5.9 minutes3 | |
| Service ceiling | 37,700'1,4, 37,730'3 11,500 m1,3 |
37,730'2,5 11,500 m2,5 |
| Range | 272 miles1, 475 miles3,4 764 km3, 765 km1 |
379 miles2,5 610 km2,5 |
| Armament | ||
| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm MG1,3,4 | 2: 12.7 mm Breda SAFAT MG2,5 |
| Wings | 2: 7.7 mm MG2,5 | |
| Wings - later models | 2: 7.7 mm MG3 | |
| Under wings - later models | 2: 20 mm3 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
