Forwarded message - From: Steve Link
Be good to see this fly….
FIAT CR42 rigged in December 2013 at Audley End (with Vintage Fabrics). Image by Geoff Jones.
Based upon an article by Geoff Jones:
The Fiat CR42 Falco was one of the most charismatic and capable biplane fighters at the start of World War Two. At a time when most aircraft designers were creating sleek, monoplane fighters, Celestino Rosatelli – who was behind some of Italy's successful Schneider Trophy racers – was still convinced that the bi-plane fighter could be a champion given the right engine and aerodynamics. Rosatelli's vision resulted in the Falco, which first flew on May 23, 1938 at Torino Caselle airfield, near Turin. The type enjoyed a relatively successful production run, with almost 1800 airframes rolling off the assembly line between 1939 and 1944 (more than any other WWII Italian fighter aircraft design). The Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) operated the bulk of these, but Germany, Sweden, Spain, Croatia, Belgium and Hungary all operated the type as well. Interestingly, a Fiat CR.42 may well have been the last biplane to claim a combat victory, as a Luftwaffe-operated example reportedly shot down a 14th FG P-38 Lightning over Croatia on February, 8th, 1945.
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