Piaggio P.32

Piaggio

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1884
Founder	Rinaldo Piaggio
Headquarters	Pontedera , Italy
Products	Aircraft, motorcycles, scooters

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The Piaggio P.32 was an Italian medium bomber developed in the late 1930s by Piaggio, under the design leadership of Giovanni Pegna. Although it featured advanced design elements for its era, the aircraft ultimately failed due to insufficient engine power relative to its high wing loading.

Design

The P.32 was configured as a twin-engine monoplane accommodating a crew of five or six members. Its primary construction utilized wood, featuring a glazed nose section, a low-set cockpit, twin vertical stabilizers, and a distinctive fuselage with a curved 'banana' profile. Armament included a dorsal turret equipped with two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns, a ventral turret, a single forward-firing machine gun in the nose, and it could carry up to 1,600 kg (3,527 lb) of bombs.

Leveraging experience from prior innovative aircraft such as the Piaggio P.16, Piaggio P.23M, and Piaggio P.23R, Piaggio designed the P.32 with relatively small wings for its size. This resulted in elevated wing loading, which necessitated the incorporation of Handley-Page leading edge slats and double trailing-edge flaps to ensure adequate lift during takeoff and landing phases.

Development

The aircraft's development started following a competition launched by the Regia Aeronautica in 1934. Among various candidates, the P.32 stood out as one of the most contemporary designs.

Its prototype took to the skies for the first time in 1936 and underwent evaluation at Guidonia. This led to an initial production order for 12 units, followed by an additional order for five more. These early models were powered by 615 kW (825 hp) Isotta Fraschini Asso XI.RC inline V-12 engines and were designated P.32 I.

By early 1937, the P.32 I variants were assigned to XXXVII Gruppo BT within the 18 Stormo. Due to their sophisticated wing design, only crews with specialized training could operate them effectively. However, they suffered from critical underperformance caused by inadequate engine power, achieving a maximum speed of merely 386 km/h (240 mph; 208 kn)—and that only when unarmed and without bomb load. The aircraft could not maintain flight on a single engine and exhibited poorer handling compared to contemporaries like the SM.79 and BR.20.

Subsequently, the P.32 II variant was introduced, equipped with more powerful 750 kW (1,006 hp) Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 radial engines; twelve units were delivered in early 1938. While these engines improved climb performance, increased weight prevented any gains in top speed, and operational range diminished from 1,950 to 1,700 km (1,210 to 1,060 mi; 1,050 to 920 nmi) due to higher fuel consumption.

The P.32 Bis represented a redesign aimed at reducing empty weight from 6,355 to 5,700 kg (14,010 to 12,566 lb) by slightly decreasing overall dimensions. With Isotta Fraschini Asso XI engines, it reached speeds up to 378 km/h (235 mph; 204 kn) and service ceilings near 6,300 m (20,700 ft); when fitted with Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 engines, maximum speed increased to 420 km/h (261 mph; 227 kn) and ceiling rose to approximately 8,000 m (26,000 ft). Unfortunately, the prototype crashed on 25 February 1938 resulting in the death of the test pilot, which halted further progress on this model.

By April 1938, both P.32 I and II versions were withdrawn from frontline service and reassigned for training purposes. In 1939, a fatal accident involving a P.32 caused crew fatalities; subsequent details regarding remaining aircraft are scarce but suggest they were likely dismantled shortly thereafter.

Variants

P.32 I

Equipped with 615 kW (825 hp) Isotta Fraschini Asso XI R.C. V-12 engines.

P.32 II

Powered by 750 kW (1,006 hp) Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 radial engines.

Caproni Ca.405 Procellaria

A Caproni-produced model featuring the P.32’s wings combined with a newly designed fuselage, intended for the 1937 Istres-Damascus-Paris Air Race but not finished in time. Two units were constructed, one fitted with Isotta Fraschini Asso engines and the other with Piaggio P.XI.R.C.40 engines.

P.32 Bis

A revamped design developed by Caproni-Reggiane, designated as the Ca.400. This variant underwent testing with both engine types. Only one prototype was completed.

Operators

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Aeronautica

Further reading

• Vigna Achille, Il Piaggio P.32, Storia Militare magazine no. 100 November 1997 (in Italian)