Fiat G.18
 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(June 2009) |
| G.18 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Fiat |
| Designer | Giuseppe Gabrielli |
| First flight | 18 March 1935 |
| Number built | 9 |
TheFiat G.18was an Italianairlinerdeveloped in the mid-1930s.
Design
[edit]It was a conventional low-wingmonoplanewith twin engines mounted on the wings, similar in appearance to the Douglas DC-2. The main units of thetailwheel undercarriageretracted into the enginenacelles,leaving their wheels partially exposed. The cabin seated 18 passengers.
Service history
[edit]Three G.18s were put into service with Fiat's own airline,ALI,early in 1936; the feedback received was that the type was underpowered. Fiat responded the following year with a revised version, theG.18Vwhich had more powerful engines, and a redesignedfinand long dorsal strake. Six of these were delivered to ALI, which operated them on its European routes until the outbreak ofwar.
In June 1940, ALI was brought under control of theRegia Aeronautica(Royal Italian Air Force), and the G.18s were put to use as transports. Among other operations, they flew troops toAlbaniain November 1940 as part of the campaign againstGreece.By the time of theItalian armistice,only one remained in operation, with another three captured byGermany,and a fifth aircraft in use by the remaining Italian Fascist forces. This latter aircraft was involved in a major accident on 30 April 1944 when, loaded with munitions, it exploded on the runway atBresso.The blast caused considerable damage to the airfield.
Variants
[edit]- G.18- original version withFiat A.59engines (3 built)
- G.18V- revised version withFiat A.80engines (6 built)
Operators
[edit]
Specifications (G.18V)
[edit]
Data from[1]
General characteristics
- Crew:three
- Capacity:18 passengers
- Length:18.81 m (61 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan:25.00 m (82 ft 1 in)
- Height:5.01 m (16 ft 5 in)
- Wing area:88.3 m2(950 sq ft)
- Empty weight:7,200 kg (15,900 lb)
- Gross weight:10,800 kg (23,800 lb)
- Powerplant:2 ×Fiat A.80,746 kW (1,000 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed:400 km/h (250 mph, 220 kn)
- Range:1,675 km (1,041 mi, 905 nmi)
- Service ceiling:8,700 m (28,600 ft)
- Rate of climb:4.8 m/s (944 ft/min)
See also
[edit]Related lists
References
[edit]- ^Fiat G.18, "Ali e uomini" website(in Italian)
Sources
[edit]- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation.London: Studio Editions. p. 389.
- "File 894 Sheet 21".World Aircraft Information Files.London: Bright Star Publishing.
External links
[edit]
- "Italy's Latest Transport".Flight:Supplement a. 16 May 1935.Retrieved2008-03-18.
- "Venetian Venture".Flight:579. 9 June 1938.Retrieved2008-03-18.
