Owing much to the Travel Air Model R high-speed
single-seat monoplane, the fifth example of which was
purchased by Italy's Ministero dell'Aeronautica, the
Breda 27 single-seat fighter was designed by Cesare
Pallavicino and was of mixed construction. The fuselage
was of welded steel tube with corrugated light
alloy skinning and the wing was of wood, power being
provided by an Alfa Romeo-built Bristol Mercury (Mercurius) IVA nine-cylinder radial rated at 540hp. Proposed
armament comprised two 12.7mm synchronised
machine guns. Two prototypes were built, flight testing
commencing early 1933, and the second prototype
flying from Milan to Rome-Montecelio on 10 July of that
year in 90 min at an average speed of 334km/h. The second prototype differed from the first
in several respects, additional bracing struts being introduced
between the wing and fuselage, and struts
added to increase the rigidity of the tailplane. The
characteristics were generally unsatisfactory,
the poor view from the cockpit being the subject
of particular criticism, and, Ing Pallavicino having
meanwhile left Breda, a total redesign of the fighter
was undertaken by engineers Parano and Panzeri as
the Breda 27 Metallico.
W.Green, D.Swanborough "The Complete Book of Fighters", 2000
