Breda Ba.64
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930s |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Aircraft |
The Breda Ba.64 was a single-engine Italian ground-attack aircraft operated by the Regia Aeronautica during the 1930s.
Conceived by Antonio Parano and Giuseppe Panzeri, it entered limited service from 1936 within two squadrons alongside the contemporaneous Caproni A.P.1. By 1939, it was phased out and succeeded by the more advanced Ba.65 model.
Design and development
Derived from the earlier Ba.27 fighter of 1932, the Ba.64 was developed in 1933 to meet the Regia Aeronautica’s specifications for a versatile platform capable of fulfilling fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance roles. It featured an all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane design with wire-braced tail surfaces and a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The open cockpit was positioned far forward on the fuselage, aligned with the wing roots, to maximize downward and forward visibility. A streamlined fairing extended from the pilot’s headrest along the upper fuselage decking to the tail.
Two prototypes equipped with a 522 kW (700 hp) Bristol Pegasus engine were built: the first (MM 249) was a two-seater with fixed landing gear, while the second (MM 250) was a single-seater fitted with semi-retractable main wheels that reduced drag when retracted rearwards and offered protection during wheels-up landings.
The initial flight took place in 1934; however, testing revealed underwhelming performance. Despite this, a limited production run was commissioned for a two-seat variant featuring semi-retractable landing gear, powered by a 485 kW (650 hp) Alfa Romeo 125 engine. All 42 units were completed by 1936.
Operational history
Produced aircraft were assigned to the 5° and 50° Stormos, but pilots found them unsuitable for bomber or fighter tasks due to insufficient power, cumbersome handling, and a propensity for high-speed stalls resulting in several fatal accidents. Following brief front-line deployment, Ba.64s were reassigned as two-seat trainers and relegated to secondary roles, although some remained operational until March 1943.
Variants
- Ba. 64 (Alfa W125)
- The initial engine model implemented in the production version, the Alfa W 125 was a licensed production variant of the Walter Pegasus.
- Ba. 64 (Alfa 125 RC 35)
- The subsequent engine type applied in the production model; despite their resemblance, the Alfa W 125 and Alfa 125 RC 35 engines were not compatible with each other.
- Ba. 64 (Fiat A.74)
- A sole prototype equipped with this engine was trialed in 1937.
- Ba. 64 d.c.
- Doppio Comando (Dual Control) versions converted into two-seater trainers starting from 1938.
Operators
Specifications (Ba.64)
See also
References
Bibliography
- Giancarlo Garello, Il Breda 65 e l'aviazione d'assalto, Roma, 1980.
- David Mondey, The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II, New York: Bounty Books, 2006.
- Michael J.H. Taylor, Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation Vol.2, Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Educational Corporation, 1980.
- Jim Winchester, "Breda Ba.65," in Aircraft of World War II: The Aviation Factfile, Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004.
External links
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