Fiat G.55 Centauro

The Fiat G.55 Centauro (Italian: "Centaur") is a single-engine single-seat monoplane fighter aircraft designed and produced by the Italian aircraft manufacturer Fiat Aviazione. It was operated by both the Regia Aeronautica and the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana during the latter half of the Second World War.

The G.55 was developed and produced at Fiat's Turin facility. A key feature was its use of a inline engine (a license-built copy of the German Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine) instead of the traditionally favoured radial engine. It was armed with varying combinations of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon and 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns. The resulting fighter was relatively powerful, quick, and robust. The prototype G.55 made its maiden flight on 30 April 1942; after proving itself during competitive trials, the fighter entered quantity production and squadron service during the following year.

Being only active during the latter portion of the conflict, the majority of its operational service came after the Armistice of 8 September 1943 and thus was principally operated by the Repubblica Sociale Italiana. Wartime efforts to further develop the G.55 included the G.56, which was powered by the larger and more powerful German Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine; however, the G.56 variant is not believed to have ever been produced in quantity. Following the end of the conflict, Fiat opted to reestablish production of the G.55; in addition to its domestic use, postwar export sales were made to the Argentine Air Force and the Royal Egyptian Air Force. In this manner, examples were still being flown into the 1950s. Additionally, a dedicated trainer version, the G.59, was developed, powered by imported Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.

While Italian fighter pilots typically appreciated the Centauro, by the end of the conflict fewer than 300 aircraft had been completed. By comparison, the Germans produced 35,000 Bf 109s. Despite only being available in limited numbers, the G.55 proved itself to be an excellent high altitude interceptor over Northern Italy. During 1944, the Centauro routinely clashed with British Supermarine Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning, proving to be no easy adversary. The G.55 has been claimed to be the best aircraft produced in Italy during the Second World War (a subjective claim also frequently made for the Macchi C.205 Veltro as well as for the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario). During 1943, after comparative tests against the Messerschmitt Bf 109G and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Luftwaffe officials declared that the Fiat G.55 was "the best Axis fighter" available at that time.