Breda Ba.46
| Company type | Military aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Products | Bomber and troop carrier aircraft |
The Breda Ba.46 was an Italian tri-motor bomber and troop carrier, evolved from a comparable but less powerful civilian transport aircraft. Conceived during the mid-1930s, it was intended for colonial enforcement duties but did not advance to mass production.
Design and development
First taking to the skies in 1934, the Breda Ba.46 represented a military adaptation of the earlier Breda Ba.32 airliner, which accommodated 8 to 11 passengers and had been introduced two years prior. The Ba.46 was purpose-built to serve in colonial policing operations, combining bombing capability with troop transport functionality. It could carry a combination of 12 soldiers alongside up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs—available in 100 kg (220 lb), 250 kg (550 lb), and 500 kg (1,100 lb) increments—or alternatively deliver a maximum bomb payload of 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) without personnel on board.[1]
Both models shared a three-engine configuration with cantilever low-wing monoplane designs and fixed conventional landing gear. Due to the addition of military equipment—primarily armaments and bombs—the Ba.46 experienced an approximate 45% increase in maximum takeoff weight compared to its predecessor. To accommodate this, it was equipped with more powerful radial engines: three Alfa Romeo-built Bristol Pegasus units rated at 650 hp (485 kW) each, offering over twice the output of the Ba.32's Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior engines. The aircraft's wingspan and wing area were enlarged by roughly 12% and 22%, respectively, while other dimensions remained unchanged. These enhancements resulted in improved performance, with the Ba.46 achieving faster speeds during level flight and significantly better climb rates—reaching an altitude of 5,000 m in just 18 minutes versus the Ba.32's 52-minute climb time.[1]
The cockpit featured an enclosed canopy, and side windows were integrated along the fuselage. Defensive firepower was provided by four machine gun mounts: two positioned dorsally and two ventrally. Bombs were housed internally within separate compartments corresponding to each bomb size, each accessible through dedicated doors. The tail assembly consisted of a braced horizontal stabilizer atop the fuselage paired with a single vertical fin. The main landing gear wheels were widely spaced and enclosed within streamlined fairings, while the outboard engines were fitted with Townend rings for aerodynamic efficiency; however, the central engine was left uncowled.[1]
Although the Breda Ba.46 completed its maiden flight in 1934, by that time Breda had shifted focus towards more advanced aircraft featuring retractable landing gear and specialized bomber roles tailored for European conflict scenarios. Consequently, no further development of the Ba.46 took place.[1]
Specifications
See also
References
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