Fiat G.50

. Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50 Freccia

The Fiat G.50 was the first monoplane fighter to enter service with Regia Aeronautica, early 1939, the prototype having flown in 1937, february, 26th.
A rather manouvrable and nimble fighter plane, suffering though for being somewhat underpowered and underarmed.
Not being particularly performing in any respect it served although honestly during the war years on many fronts, mainly as fighters, escorts and fighter-bombers, with a grand total of over 700 built.
Particularly brilliant results were obtained by the finnish pilots that used a small amount of G.50s on the eastern front 1940-1944; they claimed 88 confirmed victories at the expense of only 2 pilots killed.
The plane here depicted belonged to 351st squadron and was sent to North Africa early 1941.

Flying the Freccia

The Fiat G.50 virtual cockpit is built by the book, that is positioning every single gauge, instrument and lever as precise as my docs are.
Gauges and labels are in italian, please refer to the pictures below if you have any trouble in understanding usage (images show CFS3 panels, slightly different).

Right panel

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Left panel

Main panel

The A.74 engine
The G.50 was powered by a Fiat A.74/RC38 radial 14 cylinders engine, rated at 840 HP.
The RC38 suffix indicated the height in hundred of meters (3800 meters) at which full power was restored by the mechanical compressor.
It is fully represented here and visible hitting SPOILER key, or acting a switch on the instrument panel.
Engine cover is authomatically closed when plane starts moving.
The italian airplanes had a WEP device called "+ 100" to be used in emergency for no more than 5 minutes; the "+ 100" referred to the overboost measured in mmHg (760 mmHg = 1 atmosfere).
The flight dynamics is modelled to resemble historical behaviour in these ones and more respects.

TELEVEL: the fuel indicator
The fuel total capacity of the Freccia varied between 316 and 411 liters depending on version; the one here depicted has the highest value.
This quantity was divided among two (main and auxiliary) tanks in the fuselage; main tank capacity corresponds to the 0-350 liters range in the gauge; when the fuel level falls below 0 it means the auxiliary tank is automatically acted.
No auxiliary wing tanks are reported of being used.
The emergency fuel was meant as a last resource and not to be used in battle, italian pilots were instructed to head home immediatly when the gauge started red lining.
The sentence "litri in linea di volo" means "liters in line of flight".

The armament
The armament of the G.50 consisted of two Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm mounted on the cowling and firing through the propeller.
The two gun synchronization devices are depicted in the model as well as the fire button on top of stick.
Pressing the fire button simulates ammo consumption via XML gauges, recorded also by the two ammo counters. The two re-arming levers available restore ammo load to max value (350 rounds each).
From january 1942 the plane switched to CAS roles fitted with two 100kg bombs under wings, not depicted in this model.

Cylinder temperature
The italian radial engined planes were fitted with a probe selector for engine temperature.
Switching the selector allowed to gauge temperature for different cylinders.
Selector is left, temperature gauge is right.

Twin needles gauges
A typical italian gauge was the dual needle one; the one here depicted is the oil temperature gauge.
The temperature was measured both before and after the system so two values were shown.
The needle labeled with an E measured before the system (E for ENTRATA = ENTRY);
the one carrying an U was used to gauge after the component (U for USCITA = EXIT).

Two needles altimeter
The italian altimeter existed in several different variants.
This plane had a two needles gauge, the slower needle measuring thousands of meters, the faster one hundreds.

San Giorgio gunsight

The Fiat G.50 Freccia was equipped with a San Giorgio mk I reflector gunsight, much likely contemporary italian fighters.
A switch on the instrument right panel turns the reticule on and off.
Use the gunsight rheostat to regulate reticle luminosity (right picture).

Data

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Dimensions

Length...................................8.03 m.

Span.....................................10.99 m.

Height.....................................3.28 m.

Ground angle tail down...................12°

Wing area ............................ 18.25 sq. m.

Incidence (aerofoil to fuselage d/l)... 3°

Empty weight ........................... 1963 kg

Loaded weight .......................... 2402 kg

Aileron movement - up....................22.0°

Aileron movement - down..................21.0°

Elevator movement - up...................28.5°

Elevator movement - down.................25.5°

Rudder, port and starboard...............28.0°

Flaps, down +/- 5°.......................60.0°

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Performance

Max speed at sea level ..................... 400 km/h

Max speed at 5000 m ..................... 470 km/h

Min speed ............................... 123 km/h

Climb to 2000 m ........................... 1'50''

Climb to 6000 m ........................... 7'30''

Service ceiling ........................... 10700 m

Range .................................... 445 km

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Engine

Name ............... Fiat A.74 RC 38

Type ... 14 cylinder radial, supercharged, geared, air cooled, with carburettors

Weight ................................... 600 kg

Displacement ............................ 31.249 c. dm

Compression ratio .......................... 6.7

Gear coupling .......................... 1.526

Max rated RPM .......................... 2400

Critical altitude .......................... 3800 m

Max power ............ 890 HP take-off WEP / 2400 rpm

Max power .................. 840 HP at 3800 m / 2400 rpm