Umbra AUT.18

     
Název:
Name:
Umbra AUT.18 Umbra AUT.18
Originální název:
Original Name:
Umbra AUT.18
Kategorie:
Category:
stíhací letoun fighter aeroplane
Výrobce:
Producer:
DD.MM.1939-DD.MM.1939 Aeronautica Umbra SA, Foligno /
Období výroby:
Production Period:
DD.MM.1939-DD.MM.1939
Vyrobeno kusů:
Number of Produced:
1 prototyp
První vzlet:
Maiden Flight:
22.04.1939
Osádka:
Crew:
1
Základní charakteristika:
Basic Characteristics:
 
Vzlet a přistání:
Take-off and Landing:
CTOL - konvenční vzlet a přistání CTOL - conventional take-off and landing
Uspořádání křídla:
Arrangement of Wing:
jednoplošník monoplane
Uspořádání letounu:
Aircraft Concept:
klasické conventional
Podvozek:
Undercarriage:
zatahovací retractable
Přistávací zařízení:
Landing Gear:
kola wheels
Technické údaje:
Technical Data:
 
Hmotnost prázdného letounu:
Empty Weight:
1960 kg 4321 lb
Vzletová hmotnost:
Take-off Weight:
2480 kg 5467 lb
Maximální vzletová hmotnost:
Maximum Take-off Weight:
2975 kg 6559 lb
Rozpětí:
Wingspan:
11,5 m 37ft 8,75in
Délka:
Length:
8,75 m 28ft 8,49in
Výška:
Height:
2,88 m 9ft 5,39in
Plocha křídla:
Wing Area:
18,70 m2 201.29 ft2
Plošné zatížení:
Wing Loading:
? kg/m2 ? lb/ft2
Pohon:
Propulsion:
 
Kategorie:
Category:
pístový piston
Počet motorů:
Number of Engines:
1
Typ:
Type:
Fiat A.80 R.C.41 o výkonu 758 kW / 1030 k Fiat A.80 R.C.41, power 1016 hp
Objem palivových nádrží:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
? ?
Výkony:
Performance:
 
Maximální rychlost:
Maximum Speed:
489 km/h v 5000 m 303.9 mph in 16404 ft
Cestovní rychlost:
Cruise Speed:
445 km/h v ? m 276.5 mph in ? ft
Rychlost stoupání:
Climb Rate:
? m/s ? ft/min
Čas výstupu na výšku:
Time to Climb to:
? min do ? m ? min to ? ft
Operační dostup:
Service Ceiling:
10 000 m 32,800 ft
Dolet:
Range:
800 km 500 mi
Maximální dolet:
Maximum Range:
? km ? mi
Výzbroj:
Armament:
2 x 12.7 mm (0.500 in) kulomet Breda-SAFAT 2 x 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
Uživatelské státy:
User States:
Poznámka:
Note:
- -
Zdroje:
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org
L+K 8/74
http://airspot.ru/catalogue/item/umbra-aut-18
http://www.aviastar.org/air/italy/aut-18.php
alternathistory.org.ua
pl.wikipedia.org
de.wikipedia.org
www.enotes.com
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Umbra-AUT-18-t30060#425395 Version : 0
Umbra A.U.T. 18
Italian contribution to the effort to create a modern fighter aircraft, which failed due to a confluence of adverse circumstances.

The designer of this aircraft, engineer Felice Trojani, was himself a very interesting personality. He was a member of the crew of Umberto Nobile on both successful flights of his "Norge" (1926), as well as on the disastrous mission of the airship "Italia" (1928), when he served as engineer and elevator operator.
Both survived the crash, but fell into disfavor with the fascist government and went to the USSR, where they worked for several years on the development of Soviet airships. However, further developments in the late 1920s and early 1930s forced them both to return to Italy.

Trojani found a job as chief engineer at Aeronautica Umbra S.A. in Foligno. The head of the company was Muzio Macchi. From 1935 onwards, Aeronautica Umbra S.A. produced various Italian aircraft for other manufacturers, such as the Savoia Marchetti SM.79, Savoia Marchetti SM.81 and Savoia Marchetti SM.84 types. At this time, the Ministry of Aviation (Ministero dell'Aeronautica) is launching the so-called Project R (Progetto R) - a plan to modernize the Italian Regia Aeronautica - Caccia da Combattimento fighter air force. It envisaged the production of 3,000 fighters by 1939-40, capable of replacing the obsolete Fiat CR.32 and CR.42 biplanes. The specification required, among other things, armament of 2 large-calibre machine guns and a flight endurance of at least 2 hours. Engineer Trojani participated in this competition with his prototype A.U.T. 18. His competitors in this competition were the Caproni-Vizzola F.4, Caproni-Vizzola F.5, Fiat G.50 Freccia, IMAM-Ro-51, Macchi MC 200 Saetta and Reggiane Re 2000 Falco.

History:
The first concept of the A.U.T. 18 dates back to 1934 and was certainly on the level of its time. Development work stretched over 3 years. This time was filled with demanding research, such as blowing up a number of models in a wind tunnel. The fact that the aircraft was originally conceived as a two-seater and only changed to a single-seater during the design work also took its time. This - among other things - was reflected in its greater weight and overall robustness compared to its competitors.

Muzio Macchi accepted the plans to build the fighter in 1935 and by 1936 the first prototype was completed. In the same year it received its military registration MM.363. The type designation A.U.T. 18 is made up of the manufacturer's monogram (AU), the designer's surname (T) and the wing area of the future machine (18 m2).

The flight tests started on 21 March 1939 at the factory airfield in Foligno. The factory airfield proved to be unsuitable for flight tests, so it was decided to transport the prototype to the larger Viterbo airfield 120 km away. After a difficult transport and reassembly of the machine, the first flight took place on 22 April 1939, much later than its competitors. Giovanni Roccato, the company's test pilot, sat in the cockpit. It is often said that Trojani's political troubles were behind the delay in the development of the A.U.T. 18. However, there are also opinions that multiple causes were involved in this delay - the aforementioned political difficulties of Trojani, the slow and cautious work of Trojani himself, the interference of the boss Muzio Macchi, bringing additional special requirements, and the caution of the flight pilot Roccato, who was afraid to damage or even destroy the only achievable machine.

A.U.T. 18 was moved to the larger Guidonio airfield in the Lazio area in the summer of 1939, where it took part in comparative trials with other Project R fighters. The tests were successful. On 20 February 1940, the aircraft was sent back to Foligno for further modifications, most notably receiving a better aerodynamically shaped radial engine cowl. The frontal area of the engine was reduced, the cylinder heads were given separate covers, protruding from the outline of the cowl. The propeller was given an aerodynamic cone. The machine returned to Guidonia on 21 June. The aerodynamically cleaner nose shape allowed the speed to be increased by 15 km/h, so that it now reached 489 km/h. Tests at Guidonia were completed on 12 July 1940. A total of 55 flights were made without any accidents. In addition to the chief pilot Giovanni Roccato, the aircraft was flown by Colonel Tondi, Mar. Vignoli and Captain Adriano Mantelli.

The result of the tests was that the new fighter did not offer performance significantly better than its competitors, such as the then available Macchi M.C.200, which made its first flight in 1937. The Macchi M.C.200, the FIAT G-50 Freccia and the Reggiane Re-2000 Falco won the competition and entered series production.

Deployment:The results of the test, and probably still the hostility of the politicians, led to the decision of the Reggia Aeronautica command that the prototype in its final form, although accepted into the armament of the PVO unit as of 5 November 1940, was not recommended for series production. Any further development work on A.U.T.18 was stopped.

The final fate of the prototype after it was handed over to Reggio Aeronautica is unknown. Trojani himself judged that it was taken to Germany for further testing after the Armistice, but it is more likely that it was destroyed in an air raid after being transferred to Orvieto, where it was flown over by Cap. Mantelli. Others think it was captured by the Allies for study purposes. It is known that as early as 1936 the RAF was aware of the aircraft's existence and classified it as an existing Italian type.

Design:
The aircraft was designed as a single-engine, single-seat, all-metal, self-supporting low-flying aircraft. The fuselage was of triangular cross-section with rounded corners. It was made of chromoly steel tubes by autogenous welding, the covering was made of duralumin. The wing skeleton was made of the same material, but the tubes were joined by spot welding. The wing skin was made of duralumin, the covering was canvas.

The tail surfaces were made of duralumin (wing spar and ribs), the moving parts were covered with canvas, statically and aerodynamically balanced.

The undercarriage was retracted into the wings towards the fuselage, the aft wheel was also retractable. The landing gear retraction mechanism was equipped with a hydraulic system driven by pumps. The wheels were equipped with "FAST" shock absorbers.

Unlike other Italian fighters of this period, its offensive armament - two Breda-SAFAT machine guns of 12.7 mm calibre - was not mounted in the fuselage, but in the wing centroplane. The machine guns were mounted one in each wing, outside the undercarriage shafts. This arrangement put the guns outside the propeller circuit, eliminating the need to install synchronizing equipment. The machine guns carried a supply of 300 rounds for each.

The machine was powered by the common at this time twin-row 14-cylinder FIAT 80 RC. 41 radial engine, giving over 1000 horsepower, driving a three-bladed, in-flight adjustable Alfa Romeo propeller.
The fuel tanks were located in the fuselage behind the cockpit.

Sources:
en.wikipedia.org
L+K 8/74
http://airspot.ru/catalogue/item/umbra-aut-18
http://www.aviastar.org/air/italy/aut-18.php
alternathistory.org.ua
pl.wikipedia.org
de.wikipedia.org
www.enotes.com
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Umbra-AUT-18-t30060#425391 Version : 0

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Jediný postavený prototyp Umbra A.U.T.18 MM.363 s původním provedením přídě.
Zdroj: www.samoloty.ow.pl
Umbra AUT.18 -


URL : https://www.valka.cz/Umbra-AUT-18-t30060#108218 Version : 0
And some pictures...
Umbra AUT.18 - Prototyp po aerodynamických úpravách přídě. Autor snímku neznámý, jde pravděpodobně o PR snímek Regia Aeronautica.

pramen-
http://warbirdsforum.com/showthread.php?t=1475

Prototyp po aerodynamických úpravách přídě. Autor snímku neznámý, jde pravděpodobně o PR snímek Regia Aeronautica.

pramen-
http://warbirdsforum.com/showthread.php?t=1475

Umbra AUT.18 - Rekonstrukce kamufláže upraveného prototypu.
pramen:
http://www.spafi.org//images/rsgallery/original/8_umbra_a.u.t.18_color.jpg

Rekonstrukce kamufláže upraveného prototypu.
pramen:
www.spafi.org

Umbra AUT.18 - Trojpohledové schéma.
pramen:
http://warbirdsforum.com/showthread.php?t=1475

Trojpohledové schéma.
pramen:
http://warbirdsforum.com/showthread.php?t=1475

URL : https://www.valka.cz/Umbra-AUT-18-t30060#425397 Version : 0
Discussion post Fact post
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