FIAT G.59. Photo. Characteristics.

Italy

A type: Single-engine fighter

Crew: One pilot

The last of the FIAT fighters, the G.59, was created because of the shortage of the DB 603A engines of the Daimler-Benz company (RA 1050 RC 58 "Tifone" of FIAT) left over from the war for the remaining gliders of the G.55A aircraft. Later the aircraft was modified, which allowed using the row engine Merlin T. 24-2 company Rolls-Royce. The first converted airplane G.55B (a two-seat training version of a single-seat fighter) flew at the beginning of 1948 under the designation G.59BM ("M" meant the Merlin engine). Egypt initially showed interest in buying 20 aircraft G.55AM / BM, but after the suspension of military action against Israel decided not to buy them.

Nevertheless, the ten existing G.55A aircraft were converted into an AM modification for the Italian Air Force (AMI), which gave the "new" aircraft the designation G.59-1A and used them as fighters and training aircraft. Then in 1950, for the service in Italy, another 15 of G.59-1A aircraft and two-seat aircraft-1V were built, followed by 20 of fully armed G.59-2 aircraft (the -1A / V versions did not have armament in connection with their training -training role). Twenty-six aircraft of the latest modification were delivered to the Syrian Air Force, while one aircraft of the modification -2A was sent for evaluation to Argentina.

The latest serial modifications were training aircraft G.59-4A / B again for the Italian Air Force, which acquired 20 singles and 10 doubles. These aircraft differed from the previous modifications by a shortened rear fuselage and drop-shaped lanterns. The G.59s were decommissioned by the Italian Air Force in the mid-1950s with the advent of jet aircraft.

Aircraft performance characteristics:

• Maximum speed: 593 km / h
• Range: 1420 km

Dimensions:

• Length: 9,47 m
• Wingspan: 11,85 m
• Height: 3,76 m

The weight:

• BLANK: 2740 kg
• Maximum take-off: 3400 kg

Power point: "Merlin" T.24-2 and "Merlin» 500 (on modifications G.59-4A / 4V) of "Rolls-Royce"

Power: 1610 l. from. (1200 kW) and 1490 l. from. (1111 kW), respectively,

Date of first flight:

• the beginning of the year 1948

Surviving airworthiness modifications: G.59-4B