S.A.I. (Ambrosini) S.403 Dardo

The ultimate development of the Stefanutti-designed wooden lightweight fighter, the S.403 Dardo (Dart), which flew for the first time in January 1943, differed from the S.207 in having a new wing profile, redesigned tail surfaces - the incidence of the tailplane being variable in flight - a redesigned rear fuselage, a fully-retractable tailwheel, provision for wing guns and a more robust structure. The S.403 was powered by an Isotta- Fraschini R.C.21/60 engine of 750hp, and three series production versions were proposed: a light point defence interceptor with armament restricted to a pair of 12.7mm machine guns; a general-purpose fighter with the machine guns complemented by a pair of wing-mounted 20mm cannon, and a long-range version with provision for two external tanks to extend its range to 2227km. Orders were placed for 3,000 examples of the S.403 (an earlier order for 2,000 S.207s being cancelled as a consequence) of which 800 were to be built by the parent company, the Societa Aeronautica Italiana (S.A.I.), 1,000 by Caproni and 1,200 by SIAI-Marchetti. This programme was thwarted by the Armistice, and, apart from the prototype, no S.403s were completed.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1657 x 1263)