Piaggio P.119

Piaggio P.119

Company type	Experimental fighter aircraft
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1939
Headquarters	Italy
Products	Fighter aircraft prototype

The Piaggio P.119 represented an Italian experimental fighter developed during World War II. Its design featured an unconventional arrangement, with a "buried" radial engine positioned centrally within the fuselage. Only a single prototype was completed before the Armistice between Italy and the Allied forces, which resulted in the termination of the project.

Development

During World War II, numerous Italian aircraft manufacturers produced varied designs. Companies like Savoia-Marchetti and Caproni primarily developed mixed-construction planes, while CANT specialized in entirely wooden aircraft. Although Fiat and Macchi produced more advanced models, their designs often retained traditional, sometimes outdated structures despite being fully metal-built. Only manufacturers such as Reggiane and Piaggio excelled in crafting advanced all-metal airframes. Among these, Piaggio was noted for pursuing innovative concepts, with the P.119 serving as a prime example. While the '5' series fighters—most notably the Fiat G.55 and the Macchi C.205—garnered significant recognition, two other contemporaries of similar caliber were the Caproni Vizzola F.6 and the Piaggio P.119; neither proceeded to mass production.

Conceived in 1939, the P.119 aimed to reduce aerodynamic drag by situating its engine mid-fuselage, adopting a configuration reminiscent of the P-39 Airacobra. This layout was intended to enhance handling by placing the engine near the aircraft's centre of gravity, also enabling heavy armament to be mounted in the nose. By 1940, Piaggio faced three critical challenges: implementing contra-rotating propellers, designing an effective power transmission system, and ensuring adequate engine cooling.

Giovanni Casiraghi, Piaggio's chief designer, had attempted to address contra-rotating propellers with the P.118 fighter concept, which proposed using two Piaggio P.XI RC 40 engines driving separate propellers; however, this aircraft never reached construction. Instead, development shifted to the P.119, which achieved its maiden flight late in 1942 after evaluating three distinct design configurations.

Design

The P.119 was a cantilever monoplane featuring an all-metal airframe and a conventional wide-track undercarriage. Its cockpit was positioned forward, with armaments installed just aft of the three-bladed propeller. The aircraft incorporated advanced manufacturing techniques for its era, including numerous removable panels to facilitate internal inspections. Component count was minimized and standardized to simplify production—a level of refinement unmatched by other Italian designs at that time.

Power was provided by a 1,119 kW (1,500 hp) Piaggio P.XV RC 45 radial engine located behind the cockpit. Cooling air intakes were situated beneath the nose section. The propeller measured 3.3 m (10 ft 10in) in diameter and was designated Piaggio P.1002; it was driven via a shaft extending beneath the cockpit area. Plans existed for an upgraded version powered by a Piaggio P.XV RC 50 engine delivering 1,230 kW (1,650 hp) at takeoff and 1,099 kW (1,475 hp) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft) altitude with a projected top speed of 630 km/h (390 mph), but this variant never materialized.

Fuel capacity included two wing tanks holding 330 L (90 US gal) each and a fuselage tank containing 340 L (90 US gal), totaling approximately 1,000 L (260 US gal). This represented roughly two-and-a-half times the fuel volume found on contemporary fighters such as the Bf 109 or the MC.205.

Despite its relatively substantial weight, the aircraft featured a broad wing spanning 13 m (43 ft) with an area close to 28 m² (300 ft²), resulting in an approximate wing loading of 150 kg/m². The wing structure relied on a single main spar, which also supported the engine assembly, complemented by a semi-spar combined with semi-monocoque skin construction.

Armament was concentrated at the nose section and comprised one 20 mm Breda cannon carrying 110 rounds alongside four 12.7 mm (.50 inch) Breda heavy machine guns loaded with 2,000 rounds total. The Breda cannon delivered greater firepower than the German 20 mm MG 151, albeit with a slower firing rate. Additionally, there was provision for mounting four extra 7.7 mm (.303 inch) Breda machine guns in the wings with an aggregate of 1,200 rounds available. A proposed anti-tank variant equipped with a Breda 37 mm (1.46 inch) cannon was conceptualized but never constructed.

Operational history

Flight tests were conducted on the aircraft, revealing that discharging all armaments simultaneously caused significant vibration issues. On 2 August 1943, a landing mishap resulted in minor damage to one wing. The project was ultimately terminated a month later following the armistice with the Allies.

Overall, the P.119 remained an intriguing and somewhat enigmatic design, remaining unknown to the public for many years. It never underwent formal assessment at Guidonia.

Its performance potential appeared promising. Although the engine and weaponry were produced under foreign licenses, they could be considered genuine counterparts to the German DB 605 engine and 20 mm MG 151 armament used in the '5' series fighters. The aircraft's capabilities were competitive with other Italian fighters of the era, offering notably superior endurance. However, its development lagged by eight months behind the '5' series fighters, which proved disastrous for the program’s viability. The Regia Aeronautica never officially evaluated the aircraft, and only one unit, MM.496, was completed. Despite this, it featured advantages such as extended range, longer endurance, improved visibility, and comparable performance and firepower.

References

• Gigli-Cervi, Alessandro; I caccia con motore centrale Aerei nella Storia magazine, Westward editions, Parma, February 2000 issue

External links

• Projected performance figures with intended engine