Breda Ba. 65

The Breda Ba.65 was an Italian all-metal single-engine, low-wing monoplane used by Aviazione Legionaria during the Spanish Civil War and Regia Aeronautica in the first half of World War II. It was the only Italian ground-attack aircraft that saw active service in this role. It saw service almost exclusively in the North African and Middle-Eastern theatre. In addition to more than 150 aircraft operated by the Italian forces, a total of 55 were exported and used by the air forces of Iraq, Chile and Portugal.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 12.1 m (39 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 23.5 m² (253 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,291 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,950 kg (6,504 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Fiat A.80 R.C.41 18-cylinder twin-row air-cooled radial piston engine, 746 kW (1,000 hp)
• Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 430 km/h (270 mph, 230 kn)
• Range: 550 km (340 mi, 300 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,700 ft)

Armament

• Guns:
  • 2 × 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
  • 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
• Bombs:
  • 500 kg (1,102 lb) of bombs

Breda Ba.65 159 Sqn 150 Stormo Assalto 159-14 (Ten. Adriano Visconti) | Africa 1940 Scale Model by AZ Model