Fiat G.18

Fiat G.18

Industry	Aviation
Founded	1935
Products	Passenger aircraft

The Fiat G.18 was an Italian passenger aircraft created during the mid-1930s.

Design

This model featured a traditional low-wing monoplane configuration with twin engines affixed to the wings, bearing a resemblance to the Douglas DC-2. Its tailwheel-type landing gear retracted into the engine nacelles, though the wheels remained partially visible. The interior was designed to accommodate 18 passengers.

Service history

In early 1936, Fiat's airline, ALI, introduced three G.18 units into operation; however, evaluations indicated that the aircraft lacked sufficient power. To address this, Fiat introduced the G.18V variant in 1937, equipped with more robust engines and a modified vertical stabilizer featuring an extended dorsal fin. ALI received six of these updated models and utilized them on European routes until the onset of World War II.

After June 1940, when ALI came under the control of the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force), the G.18s were repurposed as transport planes. Their missions included ferrying troops to Albania in November 1940 during the campaign against Greece. By the time of the Italian armistice, only one aircraft remained operational; three others were seized by Germany, and a fifth was operated by Italian Fascist forces. This last plane was involved in a significant incident on 30 April 1944 when it detonated on the runway at Bresso while loaded with ammunition, causing extensive damage to the airfield.

Variants

• G.18 – initial model equipped with Fiat A.59 engines (three units produced)
• G.18V – updated variant powered by Fiat A.80 engines (six units manufactured)

Operators

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Avio Linee Italiane (ALI)
• Regia Aeronautica

Specifications (G.18V)

File:Samolot włoski na lotnisku w Warszawie (1939).jpg