MACCHI MC 202 FOLGORE

The lack of a high-performance cylinder-in-line aircraft engine, was the reason why the totality of the italian aircrafts builders were obliged to adopt for a very long time, the twin row air cooled radial engine FIAT A-74 Rc 38, that with its 840 Hp was absolutely unfit to the tasks it had to perform.
Yet, in 1940 it was the engine that equipped all the fighters made in Italy, such as the biplane FIAT Cr 42 and the low wing monoplanes FIAT G 50 and MACCHI Mc 200 as well as the CAPRONI VIZZOLA F 4 and FIAT Cr 25.
All this appened when in Great Britain, France and germany since many years were already flyng excellent fighters already equipped with cylinder-in-line motors.
The study and, subsequent birth of the MACCHI MC 202 was the direct result of this simply absurd situation.
In the year and as a result of a direct initiative of the MACCHI factory itself, it was purchsed in Germany a Daimler-Benz DB 601A engine that, in those years, equipped the MESSERSCHMITT Bf 109 E and that with few minor adjustments of the fuselage was directly installed on the body of a MACCHI Mc 200.
The MACCHI Mc 202 infact, is directly and integrally originating from that fighter.
The interest of the competent Ministries was immediate in consideration of the very high performance of the nw fighter so that it was decided at once to start a mass production of it.
As we pointed out before, the MACCHI Mc 202 adopted quite in its integrity the cell of the already existing MACCHI Mc 200 so that the mass production of the new fighter was facilitated as it requred only minor structural adjustments especially in consideration of the new engine and some adjustments to the cockpit assembly.
The adjustments that permitted to adopt for the MACCHI Mc 202 a very reduced front section and a very aerodynamic one, resulted in an extremely elegant silhouette perhaps still valid and hardly insuperable inegard to a propeller powered aircaraft, in consideration of these characteristics its maximum speed was indeed better than the MESSERSCHMITT Bf 109E that was also equipped with the same engine.
Officially designeated as "FOLGORE" (Lightining), the MACCHI Mc 202 first appeard in the sky of North Africa by the end of 1941 and, for sure, it was not what can be considered a "Welcome" surprise for all those used to fight against both the FIAT Cr 42 and G 50, and the MACCHI Mc 200.
In the sky of Malta, the MACCHI Mc 202 fighted against the SPITFIRE V.
But all these combats did not prove the supremacy of one fighter against the other. Some characteristics, perhaps the MACCHI Mc 202 was just a little bit in advantage in acceleration due to the very peculiar gasoline feeding system of the german DB 601 engine.
On the other hand, we cannot forghet to talk of the enormous difference of the armament considering the two fighters, two 12,7 mm (0,50) machine-guns of the Mc 202 against the formidable armament of the SPITFIRE, eight 0,30 machine-guns!
In order to try to avoid this severe hendicap, beginning with the V (fifth) serie, the Mc 202 was equipped with other two 7,7 mm (0,30) machine-guns mounted in the wing.
The Mc 202 was considered the best of the italian fighters production in WW 2 and was subjet to a further evolution with the adoption of the new born Daimler-Benz DB 605 A (1.475 Hp) engine so that the MACCHI Mc 202 became the MACCHI Mc 205V VELTRO. The new fighter, with better performance and a more heavy firepower could be consider a better fighter than the MACCHI Mc 202; on the other hand its high wing-loading effects its maneuvrability over 7/8.000 meters height.
Only one since-set fighters MACCHI Mc 202 in its integrity survived the war. Today it can be seen at the Smithsonian Museum of Washington.

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MC 202 Serie sconosciuta, 351a Sq., 155 Gruppo, 51 Stormo C.T.
MC 202 VIIa serie, 382 Sq., 21 gruppo, 51 Stormo C.T. - Russia 1942.
MC 202 AS MM 9454 (Costr.Macchi) 8Gruppo, Aeronautica Cobelligerante (Lecce 1944)
MC 202 VIIa serie MM 9066 (Costr.Macchi) 151a Sq., 20 Gruppo, 51 Stormo C.T. (Foligno 1943) Sergente Maggiore Pil. Ennio Tarantola.
MC 202 AS, 85a Sq., 18 Gruppo, 3 Stormo C.T. (Africa Sett. 1942) M.O.V.M. Segente Magg.Pil.Luigi Gorrini.
MC 202 Ia Serie (Costr.Breda) 71a Sq., 1 Stormo (Ciampino 1941)
MC 202 VIIa serie, 356a Sq., 21 Gruppo, Autonomo C.T. (Russia 1943)
MC 202 serie sconosciuta, 369a Sq., 22 Gruppo, 53 Stormo C.T. (Napo li Capodichino 1943)
MC 202 IIIa serie MM 7844 (Costr.Macchi) 73a Sq., 9 Gruppo, 4 Stormo C.T. (Africa sett.) Tenente Pil. Giulio Reiner.

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