Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II
The Reggiane Re.2001 was an Italian fighter aircraft developed during World War II as an upgrade to the Reggiane Re.2000. It was designed to address some of the shortcomings of its predecessor, particularly in terms of firepower and engine performance.
The Re.2001 was powered by a more powerful Piaggio P.XIX radial engine, which gave it a top speed of around 542 km/h (337 mph) and a range of about 1,000 km (620 mi). It was armed with two 12.7 mm machine guns mounted in the engine cowling and two 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings. Some later versions of the aircraft also had the option of carrying two 220 lb bombs or four 110 lb bombs.
The Re.2001 had a similar overall design to the Re.2000, with a streamlined fuselage and low-mounted wings. However, it had a slightly longer fuselage to accommodate the larger engine, and its wing area was increased to improve maneuverability.
The Re.2001 entered service with the Italian Air Force in 1942 and was used primarily in the Mediterranean theater, where it saw action against Allied aircraft. After the armistice, eight Reggiane 2001s saw service with the Co-belligerent Air Force.
Photos of the Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II
- Prototypes
- Under Construction
- In Regia Aeronautica Service
- In Co-Belligerent Air Force
- Crashed Reggiane Re.2001s
- Reggiane Re.2001 Delta
Prototypes
Construction
Regia Aeronautica Service
Co-Belligerent Air Force
Crashed Reggiane Re.2001s
Reggiane Re.2001 Delta
The Reggiane Re.2000 Delta was powered by the Isotta Fraschini Delta RC 16/48 engine, promising to increase the speed of the fighter. However, tests revealed a top speed of only 297mph, which resulted in the project’s cancellation.
