Breda Ba.25
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Milan , Italy |
The Breda Ba.25 was an Italian biplane trainer featuring two seats, engineered and produced by the Breda firm. It stood out as the predominant basic training aircraft in Italy throughout the 1930s.
Design and development
Its maiden flight occurred near Milan in 1931. Originally conceived as a single-seat model, the prototype was subsequently modified to accommodate two seats in tandem within the fuselage. After successful trials of this two-seat configuration, the Regia Aeronautica placed an order for a batch of 100 Ba.25 trainers at the end of 1931. Both instructor and trainee occupied open tandem cockpits, although certain variants featured a single-bay cockpit design.
The initial production run concluded by 1935; however, increased demand led to a total of 719 units manufactured for the Regia Aeronautica by late 1938. Additionally, numerous examples were produced for export markets or private owners, often equipped with alternative radial engines such as the Alfa Romeo Lynx or Walter Castor.
Operational history
Throughout World War II, the Ba.25 continued to serve as a training platform within the Regia Aeronautica. Some units were captured and transferred to the Allied forces. Paraguay acquired four Ba.25 aircraft, including one Ba.25Idro variant, which were employed as primary trainers from 1939 until 1945.
Variants
Several minor versions existed:
- Ba.25
- Standard production model.
- Ba.25/Lynx
- Equipped with a 149 kW (200 hp) Alfa Romeo Lynx radial engine.
- Ba.25/D.2
- Powered by a 179 kW (240 hp) Alfa Romeo D2 engine.
- Ba.25/Mezzo-Asso
- Fitted with a 164 kW (220 hp) Isotta Fraschini Asso 200 engine.
- Ba.25 Ridotto'
- Aerobatic variant featuring reduced wingspan.
- Ba.25-I (I indicating Idro)
- Floatplane version with 42 built, including one used by Paraguayan Naval Aviation.
- Ba.26
- Primary trainer prototype with extended wingspan and Walter NZ 120 engine.
- Ba.28
- Export model powered by a Piaggio-manufactured Gnome-Rhône 7K engine supplied to countries such as Norway, China, and Ethiopia.
Derived from the Ba.25, the Ba.28 was also a biplane but incorporated a more powerful Piaggio Stella P.VII Z radial engine delivering 272 kW (365 hp) and featured ailerons on its upper wing surfaces. The prototype debuted at Venice's air show in June 1936, followed by an Italian Air Force order for fifty units that same year. Despite its deployment in flight schools, the Ba.28 was regarded as challenging to handle in flight. Nevertheless, export orders were fulfilled for Afghanistan (2 units), China (18), Norway (6), Austria (12), and Spain (6).
Operators
- Bolivian Air Force, operated six aircraft starting in 1939
- Royal Hungarian Air Force, operated three aircraft
- Paraguayan Military Aviation, operated three Ba.25 units
- Paraguayan Naval Aviation, operated one Ba.25 Idro variant
Specifications (Ba.25)
See also
Notes
References
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External links
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