Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II
The Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II was an Italian fighter aircraft, serving in the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) during World War II. A contemporary of the renowned Macchi C.202, the production of this type was to be limited to only 252, but it was a flexible design that proved to be able to undertake a number of roles. Thanks to its maneuverability it could dogfight with more powerful opponents like the Supermarine Spitfire.
It was a development of the Re.2000 Falco I which had been rejected by the Regia Aeronautica primarily because of its unprotected fuel tanks in the wing, which were merely sealed voids between the spars, but primarily its engine - an under powered 986 hp (735 kW) Piaggio P.XI radial. This was the main problem Reggiane set out to fix, mating a 1,175 hp (876 kW) Alfa Romeo inline engine (a license-built German DB 601) to the airframe.
Incorporating much of the Re.2000's fuselage structure, even retaining the entire tail unit, the Re.2001's wings were of semi-elliptical design with three spars in each wing. The armament consisted of Breda-SAFAT machine guns, with two nose-mounted 12.7 mm (0.50 in) (up to 800 rounds) and two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) guns in the wings, (1200 rounds total).
The new Falco II was equal to the Macchi MC.202, but the Macchi fighter, having first call on production for the Alfa Romeo R.A.1000RC.41-1a meant slow deliveries to Reggiane. The Re.2001 was further delayed because the Regia Aeronautica insisted on the fuel tanks being placed inside the wings, which required a substantial redesign of the wing structure. The first order, amounting to 300 machines, was cut back with only 252 produced. This number included 100 Re.2001 Serie I, Serie II and Serie III with armament variations, the Reggiane Serie IV fighter-bomber and 150 Re.2001 CN Caccia Notturna, night fighter.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp.
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture.
Gauges, as far as I know, credit goes to kelticheart, mvg3d, Chalachew, Beepee, and Gius for their WWII Italian gauges.
The DB-601 sound is from the Team Daedalus Bf 109E-1.
Thank you to all of them for their hard work and attention to detail.
The Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II was an Italian fighter aircraft, serving in the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) during World War II. A contemporary of the renowned Macchi C.202, the production of this type was to be limited to only 252, but it was a flexible design that proved to be able to undertake a number of roles. Thanks to its maneuverability it could dogfight with more powerful opponents like the Supermarine Spitfire.
It was a development of the Re.2000 Falco I which had been rejected by the Regia Aeronautica primarily because of its unprotected fuel tanks in the wing, which were merely sealed voids between the spars, but primarily its engine - an under powered 986 hp (735 kW) Piaggio P.XI radial. This was the main problem Reggiane set out to fix, mating a 1,175 hp (876 kW) Alfa Romeo inline engine (a license-built German DB 601) to the airframe.
Incorporating much of the Re.2000's fuselage structure, even retaining the entire tail unit, the Re.2001's wings were of semi-elliptical design with three spars in each wing. The armament consisted of Breda-SAFAT machine guns, with two nose-mounted 12.7 mm (0.50 in) (up to 800 rounds) and two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) guns in the wings, (1200 rounds total).
The new Falco II was equal to the Macchi MC.202, but the Macchi fighter, having first call on production for the Alfa Romeo R.A.1000RC.41-1a meant slow deliveries to Reggiane. The Re.2001 was further delayed because the Regia Aeronautica insisted on the fuel tanks being placed inside the wings, which required a substantial redesign of the wing structure. The first order, amounting to 300 machines, was cut back with only 252 produced. This number included 100 Re.2001 Serie I, Serie II and Serie III with armament variations, the Reggiane Serie IV fighter-bomber and 150 Re.2001 CN Caccia Notturna, night fighter.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp.
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture.
Gauges, as far as I know, credit goes to kelticheart, mvg3d, Chalachew, Beepee, and Gius for their WWII Italian gauges.
The DB-601 sound is from the Team Daedalus Bf 109E-1.
Thank you to all of them for their hard work and attention to detail.
