Aeronautica Umbra Trojani AUT.18
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founder | Felice Trojani |
| Headquarters | Foligno , Italy |
The AUT.18 was an Italian prototype fighter aircraft created by Aeronautica Umbra just prior to the start of World War II. Conceived in 1934 by Felice Trojani, who was concurrently engaged with Umberto Nobile on the Arctic expeditions of the airships Norge and Italia, the aircraft’s name derived from a combination of the manufacturer’s initials, the designer’s surname, and its wing surface area (18 m2). The lone prototype bore the serial number M.M.363.
Design & Development
The AUT.18 emerged in response to the same Regia Aeronautica specification that led to the creation of fighters such as the Caproni-Vizzola F.5, FIAT G.50, Macchi C.200, Meridionali Ro 51, and Reggiane Re 2000. Its maiden flight took place on 22 April 1939, powered by a 779 kW (1,044 hp) Fiat A.80 R.C.41 radial engine. Constructed with an all-metal stressed-skin frame sheathed in duralumin, the fighter featured inward-retracting landing gear along with a retractable tailwheel. Armament consisted of two 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted on the wings, positioned just outside the undercarriage bays.
Flight evaluations yielded underwhelming results, with performance falling short compared to other aircraft developed under Progetto R—the Regia Aeronautica’s modernization initiative (riammodernamento). Despite returning the prototype to Aeronautica Umbra’s facility in Foligno for alterations on 20 February 1940 and conducting a second series of test flights beginning 5 November 1940, no significant advancements were achieved relative to fighters already in service. Consequently, the AUT.18 program was discontinued without entering production.
Operational history
Following its delivery to the Regia Aeronautica on 5 November 1940, the subsequent status of the prototype remains uncertain. It may have been sent to Germany for assessment, and there were also reports suggesting it was seized by British forces. However, the more plausible scenario is that it was destroyed during an air raid after being relocated to Orvieto.
Specifications (AUT.18)
See also
Further reading
- Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 30
- F. Trojani, La coda di Minosse, Mursia, Milano, 1964
- Lanfranco Cesari, AUSA - Una fabbrica una storia, Pro Foligno, Foligno, 2004
- R. Gentilli L'aviazione da caccia italiana 1918-1939. Volume 2o: tecnica, stemmi, esportazioni, Ed.A.I. s.r.l., Firenze, 1982
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