Italy's Reggiane Re.2000 fighter; Nickname: Falco
Photos
Reggiane Re.2000 fighter:  |
Design
In 1938 the Reggiane Re.2000 was designed by Roberto Longhi and Antonio Alessio.4 Longhi had worked in the United States in the mid-1930s and based on his experience the Reggiane Re.2000 was a copy of the Sikorsky P-35.2,3,4
The Re.2000 was all metal.4
The Re.2000 proved equal to the G.50 and M.C.200 but wasn't liked by the military.4
The fuel tanks for the Re.2000 were located in the wings.4 The military felt that this made the Re.2000 too vulnerable.4
Undercarriage
The tail wheel was retractable.1 The landing gear retracted backwards into the wing.4
Prototype
The Re.2000 prototype flew on May 24, 1939.2,3,4 Mario De Bernardi was the pilot.4 In trials the Re.2000 performed well but the engine was unreliable.4
Production
Production was just starting when the Italian government cancelled the order.2,4 Reggiane decided to continue production at its own expense and the first 188 were to be sold to foreign powers.2,4 The British ordered 300 in January 1940 and these were never delivered.2,4 70 were purchased by Hungary.2
After war was declared the Italian government reinstated the order.2
- Prototypes: 22
- Reggiane Re.2000: 3593, 3802
- Hungary: 1924, 2033
- Produced between October 1942 and August 1944.3
- Hungary: 1924, 2033
- Total: 3822
- Manufacturer: Officine Meccaniche Reggiane S.p.A.4
Hungary
192 Re.2000s were licensed built by MAVAG and called the Heja.2
Variants
- Reggiane Re.2000 Series I: Part of initial batch.2 Sold to Hungary.2
- Reggiane Re.2000 Series II: 12 were strengthened for catapult launching for the Italian Navy.5
- Reggiane Re.2000 Series III: Were to be catapult launched from Italian warships.2 10 / 245 converted.2
- J 20: 60 supplied to Sweden.2
- Reggiane Re.2000 GA: Had an additional fuselage fuel tank.3
- Mavag Héjja II (Hawk): Hungarian produced.3 Had a Gnome-Rhône 14Kfs radial engine.3
Usage
Hungary (703,4) and Sweden (603,4) received the Reggiane Re.2000s.2,3,4
First Regia Aeronautica Use
The 3° Stormo, in Sicily, received the first deliveries of the Re.2000 in 1941.2
Hungarian Use
The Hungarian 1/1 and 2/4 Squadrons of the 2nd Air Brigade used them on the Russian Front at Szolnok and Kolozsvar.2
Sweden's Use
Sweden used them until 19455 / 1946.4 They were designated the J 20.5
Specifications
| Reggiane Re.20001,3,4 | Reggiane Re.2000 Series I2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter3,4 | Fighter2 |
| Crew | 11,3,4 | 12 |
| Engine (Type) | Piaggio P.XI1 Piaggio P.XI RC 403,4 |
Piaggio PXI RC 40 piston2 |
| Cylinders | Radial1, Radial 143,4 | Radial2 |
| Cooling | Air4 | |
| HP | 8701, 1,0004, 1,0403 | 9852 |
| Propeller blades | 32 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 36' 1"3,4 11 m3 |
36' 1"2 11 m2 |
| Length | 26' 2.5"3, 26' 3"4 7.99 m3 |
26' 2.5"2 8 m2 |
| Height | 10' 6"3,4 3.2 m3 |
10' 6"2 3.2 m2 |
| Wing area | 219.6 ft2 2 20.4 m2 2 |
|
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 4,563 lb3 2,070 kg3 |
4,563 lb2 2,070 kg2 |
| Loaded | 6,290 lb4, 6,349 lb3 2,880 kg3 |
6,349 lb2 2,880 kg2 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed | 328 mph1 529 kph1 |
|
| Speed @ 16,400' | 329 mph4 | |
| Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m |
329 mph3 529 kph3 |
329 mph2 530 kph2 |
| Climb to 13,125' / 4,000 m |
4.7 minutes3 | 4.5 minutes2 |
| Service ceiling | 34,450'3,4 10,500 m3 |
30,510'2 9,300 m2 |
| Range | 870 miles3,4 1,400 km3 |
708 miles2 1,140 km2 |
| Armament | 2: MG4 | |
| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm MG3 | 2: 12.7 mm Breda SAFAT MG2 |
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
