Dear Ron: I think you are a great expert about the Fiat Centauro.I´m sure you know that the G-55 has two different types of fins.The one that was wider and slightly lower was exclusive of the protos(?) and sottoserie 0 or some aircrafts belonging to the serie I also had it togheter with others equipped with the narrower more conventional? It is possible I'm wrong at all. I wait for your answer.Thank you very much by advance.Best greatings. Rod
Ron, e-mail, 05.07.2015 17:58
The G.55 was the only series 5 fighter to have adequate cooling during sustained climb without overheating at the Guidonia competition. Another point in it's favor.
The G.56 should have been focused on by the Axis and expedited by the Luftwaffe to the full with the DB 603.
The former post of mine about the A38 powered G.55 was experimental it seems. Those speeds were not for the production version with the DB 605.
G.55/II engine cv: 1860 speed: 432 mph @ 19,029' (696 km/h @ 5,800 m) climb: 4,232 fpm (21.5 m/s) ceiling: 39,370' (12,000 m)
These figures spice things up.
A heavily armored version (G.55CB) with a 2200 cv engine could climb 4,882 fpm (24.8 m/s)! But speed was 419 mph @ 17,060' (674 km/h @ 5,200 m) and 374 mph @ sea level (602 km/h @ 0 m).
I hope they didn't get their wires crossed with the Re 2005 Sagittarioor something.
Ron, e-mail, 17.11.2014 09:06
If the Centauro had wing-root electric synchronized Mausers and one in the spinner (ala Dora), it would have adequate punch per second with only 3 guns and wing-loading would benefit in the bargain. Firepower would be more concentrated for long range shooting. Unloaded wings would improve roll-rate and agility generally.
Then, remove the 100 hp handicap on the export DB605 and mass produce a winner. I believe it would do a 360 turn in under 18 seconds (pure speculation)! It could then at least match the Re 2005 and Spitfire perhaps.
Fortunately for the Allies, history tells a different story of meager production and misplaced resources by the Axis.
Ron, e-mail, 19.10.2014 02:33
After evaluation by the Luftwaffe against the contemporary Messerschmitt Bf 109G-4, Fw 190A-5, Macchi MC 205 and Re 2005, the robust Fiat G 55 Centauro was declared the best Axis fighter overall in 1943!
It was easiest of the 3 Italian fighters to mass produce and man-hours could be cut from 15,000 to an estimated 9,000 on German production lines. It was also most suitable for upgrading later to the bigger DB603 engine.
The G 55/II had 5 Mauser 20mm cannons!! Good for intercepting Heavy bombers, even B-29s should they venture over Europe.
Speed: 417 mph with WEP. 590 mph terminal dive without flutter. Good rear view. Better high altitude handling and turn than all but the weaker Re 2005. Good ceiling and range for a European intercepter too.
In my opinion, the fighter version could make do with 3 cannons for lighter weight to mix it up with enemy fighters. Then it could even be exported to Japan when reliable new high altitude fighter designs were the exception and the Zero and Oscar were obsolete mid-war.
Can you imagine all 3 Axis nations ramping up mass production of the G 55 like Germany almost did? Don't forget, the 5,000+ Oscars took 25,000 man-hours each to produce!
Ron, e-mail, 05.08.2014 01:59
Climb correction to my last post: Another source has 7'12" time for 6 Km altitude, not 7. It has 8'34" time climbing to 7 Km; 10'11" time climbing to 8 Km. This was it's best level for speed: 391 mph without WEP boost. Ceiling was 41,830' and maximum range was 1,025 miles.
It had no sign of flutter at high speed. It had no stall vices. Great stability even at high altitudes. No structural weaknesses. Could easily up-engine to the bigger DB603A (G56) later. Was the best series 5 to mass produce. Packed more ammo than the other series 5 fighters. Some had 5x20mm Mauser cannons! It was judged as the best fighter in the Axis (in 1943)!
Luftwaffe enthusiasm was high to produce the 'excellent' Centauro in Germany until one was delivered to the Allies by a defector with chilling effect. It was test flown in England. But in any case, the Allies had access to the G55 with the Surrender of Rome in September, 1943. So the German order to destroy them in October, 1944 was ignored by the Italians.
Ron, e-mail, 04.08.2014 03:40
Some folks online discussing German 1943 testing of the G55 said it had good rear view; 590 mph max dive (950 kph), no problemo! 417 mph WEP level max speed; 7 km climb in 7 minutes, 12 sec.(7'12"); considerably better turn, and better high altitude handling than the contemporary Bf 109G-4 and Fw 190-5; also very good, well harmonized light controls even at very high speeds.
No wonder it was so popular with it's pilots! It was perhaps a tad slow until it dives! Remember, the Fiat version of the DB605 had about a 100 hp handicap. The Bf 109G and Fw 190A both had a 466 mph redline dive by comparison, due to lack of such high speed handling.
Ron, e-mail, 08.10.2013 16:15
Italian pilots flew the fighters supplied by their allies as well as their own. The G 55 Centauro was better than the Bf 109G and later the hand me down Cobras like the Russians flew. These inferior planes were in adequate quantities at least. Too bad the Fiat G 55 and the other Italian series 5 designs were in token quantities only.
Ron, e-mail, 21.01.2013 08:01
If I were a Soviet pilot, I`d swap the US guns for Russian. That about triples my firepower for closer velocity to boot. The King Cobra can take the weight increase if the Yak-9T could. The P-63 was officially used by Russia in 1945 against Japan but UNOFFICIALLY against the Luftwaffe earlier but not 1943. Few Japanese were tough in 1943. The Tony was but unfortunately unreliable too. US fighters were good but either fast and heavy like the P-38, P-47, P-51, F4U, and F6F; or slow and agile by American standards like the P-39, P-40, F2A and F4F/FM. G55 wins.
Ron, e-mail, 21.01.2013 07:04
I must admit the Centauro could be the exemplary fighter of 1943! Unbeatable at high altitude. Dives away from Allied as well as Luftwaffe fighters at will. Out turns them as well as Spitfires and Mustangs. Exemplary stall and handling. Competent roll beats Spits and Mustangs. Competent climb and range. Ditto for boosted speed and up engined capacity ala 440+mph G56. Overwhelming firepower. Robust build. Reliable engine. Production cost similar to Spitfire in man hours. Even better on German factory lines by 1/3 potentially. How many other WW2 fighters could do all that? The late war Yak9U had the altitude but not the range and reliability. No other Soviet fighter had the high altitude handling. The P-63 was really a mid altitude fighter but is worth a look when stripped of wing gun boots for better agility. Still, its cannon is low velocity not matching the cowl guns. So in 1943 the benchmark is the G55.
Ron, e-mail, 25.12.2012 04:45
If the G55 could turn 360 in 18 seconds or so, it would be the only Axis fighter in Europe aside from the Re 2005 that could duel with Yaks and Lavochkins in a close-in dogfight on equal terms and do so with much more firepower. High up it wouldn't even be a contest. In the West the Spitfire would be the closest rival in 1943. If some Messerschmit lines had run off 15,000 of these (and maybe some Re 2005s in the bargain), the unit cost would be driven down to Spitfire territory and the Italian jokes today would be much more respectful. I mean I think this plane inspired Kurt Tank to field his uber fighter Ta 152 years after the G.55 was first flown! It could have easily been a G.56 by that time, or until that time in place of the inferior Bf 109G. With the escort occuppied with re 2005s and Me 262s, the G56 could tackle the heavies by dropping the cowl guns and pack a long range Mk 103 30-mm hub cannon! The DB-603 gives it 440+ mph. No 109 Gustav could do that in 1944! Fw 190Ds could team up with it too.
Ron, e-mail, 26.11.2012 22:12
If you want to compare the Kurfurst, use the G56 with the DB603! The G55 was a Gustav contemporary before boost. The Luftwaffe compared it to their Bf 109G-4 circa 1943. Thats fair.
Ron, e-mail, 07.09.2012 07:59
In Europe, I believe the Axis were expecting to see B-29 raids toward the end.
bombardier, e-mail, 02.09.2012 20:55
I don't believe it was better than the Bf 109K and so I believe that it should instead have been produced in Japan as successor to the Ki-61.It was extremely sturdy,it's speed was good enough to compete with Mustangs,Thunderbolts,Hellcats and anything else the Americans were using in 1944-45 and finally 5 MG151s were more than enough to destroy the B-29.
Ron, e-mail, 29.08.2012 01:41
One source posted that about 200 of the 5 Cannon version were produced in the war as interceptors! That would be a worthy B-29 interceptor.
ron, e-mail, 08.08.2012 07:24
The G55 may not roll as well at faster speed as the MC205 or Fw 190A due to their lighter ailerons but it's roll rate was equal to the Bf 109G-4 and better than the P-51 and Spitfire. Initial dive acceleration was quicker with the inverted v engine than even the Merlin/Packard or BMW powerplants.
Ron, e-mail, 06.07.2012 09:34
Here is something of interest I found: "The DB605A was designed for a max power of 1475 hp at 2800 rpm, but the first engines produced, due to detonation problems and piston failures, had the 'emergency' settings disabled and were limited to 2600 rpm, giving a max power of 1350 hp. Problems were solved in 1943 by strengthening some parts and adopting new spark plugs by Bosch. The very same troubles afflicted also the FIAT version and were solved a bit later: until early 1944 the FIAT engine was limited to 2600 rpm.
Another difference between the original DB605A and the FIAT engine was the substitution of some rolling bearings with slider bearings. This solution did not compromised the performances and solved the problems related to the availability of rolling bearings. The drawback was in terms of duration and increased need of maintenance."
Due to slow production, spares were lacking. Especially for the problematic tail gear (this was eventually solved). At times most Fiat Centauros would be undergoing repairs or maintenance. So serviceable combat strength was lacking. But the Veltro and Sagittario competition was produced even less efficiently per unit.
Ema, e-mail, 16.05.2012 17:47
The germans discovered that the Centauro was better than BF-109G and FW-190, but there was a little problem... the working time to build this FIAT was almost 3 times than a german fighter!!! so all ended in a test.
Ron, e-mail, 02.12.2011 08:42
Not only could the G.55 outmaneuver the Luftwaffe fighters, it could even dive away from them. Somehow I wasn't expecting to read the part about superior dive acceleration. It's build was strong allowing for very good pullout too. However the Fw 190A-5 still could roll better than the rest of the Axis planes.
Ron, e-mail, 13.08.2011 23:24
I found it interesting that the Luftwaffe was in favor of G55 production for the ANR until a test pilot flew one to the Allied lines and it was tested in England in 1944. This certainly dampened German enthusiasm and they wanted all G55s scrapped but that was ignored. By late 1944 Italian pilots were being transferred to Bf 109s and even Me 262s. Too bad for the Centauros! The G55 had better handling and range than the Bf 109, tougher too.
Raptor lighting 2, e-mail, 18.07.2011 13:46
mon pêre il a une fiat ...
Ron, e-mail, 24.03.2011 08:09
In mock dogfights with Fw 190A-5 and Bf 109G-4 fighters, the G55 was in competition with the MC 205V and Re 2005 to see about standardizing Axis fighters. The Sagittario was the best dogfighter close-in and fastest at altitude but it was too technically complicated (advanced) to be mass produced fast enough. Also, it was not as sturdy as the others so unpaved runways could be bad news. Otherwise it was excellent. The Veltro was viewed as average and was not in the hunt at high altitude. It's handling was good enough until it was in a very tight turn where it could lose control. It lacked the hub cannon of the others too. The robust Centauro still took 3 times as many (Italian) man hours to build as the Bf 109 but plans were made to bring it down under only twice the production time. It had the best overall handling and could go 417 mph with MW-50. It was judged as excellent in the fly-off. It was to be the new standard fighter of the ANR and a candidate for the heavier DB-603 (Fiat G56) that ended up in the Ta-152 (the Bf 109 airframe was too small). The Fiat G55/II sported 5 Mauser cannons for bomber interception in 1944! Too bad it didn't make it onto the vast Messerschmitt production lines. Heck, why not the Ki 61 lines (at least the Fiat engine anyway). At least the Axis were looking to standardize.
John, e-mail, 10.03.2011 07:00
Interesting subject for sure. Does anyone know of any good 5-views of this aircraft? Or perhaps some factory model plans such as those used in wind tunnel tests?
Ron, e-mail, 27.02.2011 04:56
Ben, Good comment. If the German industry had the G.55 in place of the Bf 109G to mass produce, the Allies would have to change their tune about the Italians. Come to think of it, the Japanese as well. At least the Fiat Tifone version of the DB-605 would have been an improvement in place of the Kawasaki version in the Ki 61-II.
Ben Beekman, e-mail, 11.02.2011 03:45
The Italian military was subjected to much derision following the 1942 collapse in North Africa. Their will to fight and their technical competence was laughed at as Allied propagandists created the image of an unwilling Italy dragged along into the fighting by the German military machine. However, reading about the solid design and performance features of Italian aircraft such as the Fiat, Reggiane, and Macchi fighters and the Savoia and Piaggio bombers, one can only admire the work of the men who created and fought with these very capable aircraft. It was the lack of an aircraft industry able to turn out these aircraft in the numbers necessary to win against the lavishly-supplied Allies that doomed the Axis fortunes and nothing else.
Ronald, e-mail, 18.09.2009 07:55
While the other series 5 rivals handled best low for the Veltro and high for the Sagittario, the Centauro handled best at all altitudes. While the refined Re 2005 lacked structural strength, with only two Mauser 20 mm cannon in the wings and two Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm cowl MGs, the MC 205 lacked the extra (motor) hub cannon of the others, the G 55 had both, strength and 5 guns. The others did have a slight level maximum speed advantage, but all-around the Fiat was chosen. Gone was the anemic firepower and performance of the G 50 and the Fiat biplanes. Finally!
Steve, e-mail, 11.09.2009 19:50
The Italians seemed to do much better with the Daimler-Benz engines than the Germans themselves did.
Antonio, e-mail, 07.05.2009 00:20
After WWII a new version of this fighter was produced:G59 was a two-seater plane used as trainer and ground attack by Italy,Argentina and Iraq.It was essentially the G55 with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.
lucas, e-mail, 24.02.2009 18:29
everything exact on text,except the airport name: it was VENARIA REALE. not Venice. best regards
Ronald, e-mail, 05.09.2008 05:05
Chosen as the standard series 5 fighter for the Italian fighter force, the robust Centauro could take a punch as well as dish it out. Feared by Allied pilots especially for it's high altitude maneuverability, it was prone to fall victim to it's Luftwaffe 'friends' for it's likeness to the Allied P-51. Too bad for this promising new fighter but that's not all! Many were also scuttled by torch on the ground by their Italian pilots in protest to their German superiors. So then virtually all flew the inferior Bf 109 together and 'friendly fire' was down. Some Italian pilots were training with the Me 262 jet in the end.
3VI, e-mail, 10.06.2007 10:30
Maybe the best but not the finest italian fighter of the war. It survived the end of WWII entering service in various countries.
