Flight, November 1935

FOR the AERIAL "ARDITI"
The Breda 64, Representing a New Class of Military Aeroplane Now Being Developed in Italy

   THE Italian Army is said to have formed squads of picked men - Arditi ("dare-devils") they are called - who, with grenades in their hands and daggers in their mouths, would be chosen for particularly dangerous tasks, especially, it is presumed, for surprise attacks by night. Apparently the Italian Air Force is working on somewhat similar lines and, as reported in Flight last week, is testing various "assault" machines whose duties would entail attacking targets of every description, fixed and moving, including, in the latter category, other aeroplanes. As an Italian contemporary puts it, the "quintessence of aerial heroism" would be required in the operation of such aircraft.
   One machine in this class is the new Breda 64 monoplane. It is a low-wing type with a single Piaggio Stella IX engine or an Alfa-Romeo Pegasus type radial designated the 125 R.C.25. Both these units deliver about 600 h.p. and give a speed in the neighbourhood of 220 m.p.h. With a 900 h.p. engine 267 m.p.h. should be attained, with disposable loads varying from 1,540 lb. to 3,080 lb. according to the nature of the work for which the machine is used.
   The framework of the cantilever wings is of chrome molybdenum steel tubing, welded and covered partly with duralumin sheeting (on the leading edge, apparently) and partly with fabric. Welded steel tubular construction is employed also for the fuselage, which is metal-covered oven its forward portion, the remainder being fabric-covered.
   Both hydraulic and mechanical controls are provided for the retractable undercarriage, which is in two separate halves, folding rearward and upward into fairings below the wings.
   Main dimensions are: Span 39ft. 7in., length 31ft. 5in., and wing area 247.5 sq. ft. The gross weight is 5,511 lb.; the disposable load, as a bomber, 2,425 lb.; as a reconnaissance machine, 2,200 lb., and as a two-seater fighter, 1,609 lb.
   With the 600 h.p. engine a cruising speed of 192 m.p.h. is attained. The following figures apply to the machine as a two-seater fighter, reconnaissance machine and bomber in that order: climb to 16,400ft., 14 min., 16 min., 18 min., and ceiling, 26,240 ft., 22,960 ft. and 22.300 ft.