Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Breda A.7

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Top speed
  
235 km/h

Length
  
9.22 m

Wingspan
  
15 m

Introduced
  
1929

Breda A.7 httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons77

Manufacturer
  
Società Italiana Ernesto Breda

The Breda A.7 was a reconnaissance aircraft developed in Italy for use by the Regia Aeronautica in 1929. It was a braced parasol monoplane of conventional configuration with tailskid undercarriage. The pilot and observer sat in tandem, open cockpits. A single prototype of a long-range example, originally designated A.7 Raid and later A.16 (or Ba.16) was also constructed, but the air force showed no interest in it.

Contents

Variants

  • A.7LD prototypes - Two prototypes, powered by a 298 kW (400 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich piston engine. (2 built).
  • A.7 - Production version. Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, powered by a 380 kW (510 hp) Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 piston engine, and fitted with a revised cooling system and empennage (12 built).
  • A.7 Raid (later A.16 or Ba.16) - Long-range version, powered by Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 AQ engine. Engine later changed to a Bristol Jupiter VII and an extra seat added.

    • Operators

     Kingdom of Italy
  • Regia Aeronautica

    • Specifications (A.7)

    General characteristics

  • Crew: 2, pilot and observer
  • Length: 9.22 m (30 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.18 m (49 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 43.0 m2 (463 ft2)
  • Empty weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,500 kg (5,511 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 piston engine, 380 kW (510 hp)

    • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph)
  • Range: 1,200 km (746 miles)
  • Service ceiling: 6,500 m (21,325 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.6 m/s (905 ft/min)

    • Armament

  • 1 × rearward-firing, trainable .303 Lewis Gun for observer

    • References

    Breda A.7 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA