Fiat CR.30

Fiat

Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Headquarters	Italy
Products	Aircraft

The Fiat CR.30 was an Italian single-seat fighter biplane from the 1930s, engineered by Celestino Rosatelli and manufactured by Fiat.

Design and development

Conceived by Celestino Rosatelli, the Fiat CR.30 was a fresh design for a single-seat fighter aircraft. Four prototypes were constructed, with the initial flight taking place in March 1932. This biplane featured W-shaped interplane struts and fixed tailwheel landing gear. It was powered by a 447 kW (600 hp) Fiat A.30 R.A. V-12 piston engine. Two of these prototypes participated in an international competition held in Zurich in July 1932, securing victory in the speed circuit event with average speeds of 340 km/h (211 mph) and 330 km/h (205 mph). These impressive results prompted the Regia Aeronautica to place orders for 121 units.Template:Fix/category

Two prototypes were modified into two-seat versions known as CR.30B, intended for refresher training and liaison duties. As newer aircraft replaced the single-seaters, many were converted into two-seaters as well. Subsequently, the air force commissioned an additional 20 newly built CR.30Bs. Moreover, two units were adapted into seaplanes under the designation CR.30 Idro. Besides Italy, several European air forces operated this model, with the Hungarian Air Force being the largest international user; they employed two CR.30s starting in 1936 and later operated one single-seat and ten CR.30B two-seat variants from 1938 onward.Template:Fix/category

Variants

CR.30

Standard single-seat production model.

CR.30B

Version equipped with two seats.

CR.30 Idro

Adapted as a seaplane configuration.

Operators

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• Austrian Air Force operated three CR.30 and an additional three CR.30B units.

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• Chinese Nationalist Air Force utilized the aircraft in their fleet.

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• Luftwaffe employed captured CR.30s originally belonging to Austria.

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• Royal Hungarian Air Force incorporated these fighters into their service.

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Aeronautica was among the operators of this model.

Template:Country data Paraguay

• Paraguayan Air Force used two CR.30s starting in 1939 as advanced training aircraft.

Template:Country data Spanish State

• Spanish Nationalist Air Force operated a pair of CR.30 fighters beginning in 1938.

Template:Country data Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force maintained one CR.30 from 1938 onwards.

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1794