Breda Ba.27

Design and development

The Ba.27 was a low-wing braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. As originally designed, the Ba.27 had a fuselage of steel tube construction, skinned with light corrugated alloy metal, and wooden wings and tailplane. Evaluation of the two prototypes by the Regia Aeronautica in 1933 was strongly negative, resulting in an extensive redesign of the aircraft. The fuselage shape was made more rounded and the pilot's open cockpit was moved higher and forward to improve visibility. The corrugated skinning was also replaced with smooth sheet metal.

A prototype of this revised version, known as the Metallico, was first flown in June 1934, but Regia Aeronautica's appraisal was only a little more positive.

Operational history

Despite the lack of domestic interest, the type was ordered by the Republic of China for use against Japan. Out of eighteen machines ordered, only eleven were actually delivered.

Variants

Ba.27

Initial prototype, two built.

Ba.27 Metallico

Second improved version, twelve built.

Operators

 China

Chinese Nationalist Air Force received eleven aircraft.

Specifications (Metallico)

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot

Length: 7.67 m (25 ft 2 in)

Wingspan: 10.80 m (35 ft 5 in)

Height: 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)

Wing area: 18.9 m² (203 ft²)

Empty weight: 1,320 kg (2,910 lb)

Gross weight: 1,850 kg (4,078 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo Mercurius radial engine, 403 kW (540 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 380 km/h (236 mph)

Range: 750 km (466 miles)

Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,530 ft)

Rate of climb: 11.1 m/s (2,180 ft/min)

Armament

2 × fixed, forward-firing 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns