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Aviation / Aerospace

Fiat Cr.42 Falco (Falcon)

Biplane Fighter Aircraft [ 1939 ]

The Fiat CR.42 was designed off the successes of the CR.32, with Italy still believing in the capabilities of biplane aircraft.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/31/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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Despite its by-gone era appearance, the Fiat CR.42 Falco (meaning "Falcon") played a crucial role in the early war years for Italy, serving as the primary fighter for the Italian air force (Regia Aeronautica. The system was fielded in some quantity with multiple nations and provided some surprising combat capabilities despite the old-school design. CR.42's served with Italian forces up until the end of Italy's part in the war, ultimately being retired for good in 1945.

Even by 1939 standards, the CR.42 played the role of outdated aircraft by sheer appearance. The system (designed by one Celestino Rosatelli) utilized a sesquiplane biplane approach where the lower wing assembly was shorter in span than the upper. The undercarriage remained fixed and the pilot sat in an open-air cockpit behind the engine and entire wing assembly. A Fiat-brand A.74 R1C 14-cylinder radial piston engine of 840 horsepower powered the type offering up good range and an adequate service ceiling. Armament initially consisted of a pair of synchronized 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns but this was later upgraded to a more potent array of 2 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns. The latter upgrade could also be complimented with an additional 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in underwing fairing positions. A bombload of up to 440lb could be added underwing for strike sorties.©MilitaryFactory.com

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The Falco was initially fielded in 1939 with over 140 in service by the summer of 1940. CR.42's fared reasonably well as dogfighters and interceptors against French fighters and bombers over Southern France and were adept at bomber escorting and light bombing French ground targets themselves. CR.42's were fielded in this latter role over North Africa as well. Being wholly outclassed by the crop of monoplane aircraft littering the skies by the middle years of the war, the CR.42 played a more diminished role, particularly by the end of Italy's involvement in the conflict. The capitulation of Italy all but ended the Regia Aeronautica-operated CR.42's involvement to which the German Luftwaffe put in an order of their own for some 200 CR.42LW (LuftWaffe) models for "night harassment" duty.

Some 1,784 total CR.42's were produced during the war with just a small portion of that surviving in operational form by war's end. Primary users alongside the Italians included the Germans, Hungarians, Swedes and Belgians. Variants of the base fighter type included a multi-machine gun version in the CR.42bis, a night fighter model in the CR.42CN a two-seat communications platform.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1939

Origin

Kingdom of Italy

Crew

1

Production

1,784
UNITS

Fiat - Italy

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Belgium; Nazi Germany; Hungary; Kingdom of Italy; Sweden.

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.

Length

27.1 ft
(8.27 m)

Width/Span

31.8 ft
(9.70 m)

Height

11.8 ft
(3.59 m)

Empty Wgt

3,929 lb
(1,782 kg)

MTOW

5,066 lb
(2,298 kg)

Wgt Diff

+1,138 lb
(+516 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Fiat Cr.42 production variant)

Installed: 1 x Fiat A.74 R1C 14-cylinder radial piston engine developing 840 horsepower.

Max Speed

267 mph
(430 kph | 232 kts)

Ceiling

33,465 ft
(10,200 m | 6 mi)

Range

482 mi
(775 km | 1,435 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

2,340 ft/min
(713 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Fiat Cr.42 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

EARLY:
2 x 7.7 Breda-SAFAT machine guns

LATE:
2 x 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns

OPTIONAL:
2 x 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in underwing blisters
440lbs of bombs held underwing

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

Graphical image of an aircraft heavy machine gun

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 2

CR.42 - Base series designation; fitted with 12.7mm OR 7.7mm machine guns in some cases; some CR.42 models converted to twin-seat communications platforms.

CR.42AS - Desert Modified Model

CR.42B (CR.42DB) - Single Example Model fitted with Daimler-Benz DB 601 series engine for improved speed.

CR.42bis - Fitted with 4 x 12.7mm machine guns and 2 x 7.7mm machie guns (these in underwing blister positions).

CR.42CN - Nightfighter

ICR.42 - Prototype Developmental Floatplane Model; produced by CMASA.

CR.42LW - Nightfighter used by Luftwaffe.

CR.42 "Bombe Alari" - Modified Bomber Model

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