WesWorld

News Catch up for late 1926


All of Italy is congratulating its newest star, Mario de Bernardi who recently won the Schneider trophy for Italy in the competition held in Hampton Roads on 13th November. His graceful Macchi M.39 floatplane reached speeds of up to 400kmh giving him a clear lead over his closest competitors, the defending Americans. His aircraft looks like something from the future, a sleek twin float monoplane in the Italian red colours. The competition next year will be held in Venice where there is expected to be large crowds to see the aircraft try to better themselves. A few days afterwards, on 17th November di Bernardi also captured the absolute speed record of 416,6kmh. He is expected to lead the Italian team next year.


http://www.hydroretro.net/images/avions/macchi_m39.jpg

di Bernadi’s M.39 floatplane.

As an advance notification to shipping, small-scale exercises between AANM members will be held in the Tyrrhenian Sea during the last weeks of January and early February. Traffic should expect to see warships and aircraft from both sides, but no danger is posed.


The Italian government has replied to the Frankfurt Amendments proposed by Germany. To break it down further, Clauses 159-213 of the Treaty of Versailles are to be rescinded allowing Germany to attain an Army, Navy and Air Force proportional in size to that of France, Denmark, Poland and Russia. Dealing specifically with naval issues, Germany will sign the Treaty of Cleito thus allowing her allotments of the same size as the Republic of France. She will be allowed 6 Capital ships of up to 40,000tons in size mounting not more than 381mm guns. Part 3, Chapter A, Article VI shall not apply to her. Right of replacement for Markgraf and Prinzregent Luitpold is waived until such time as 25 years after their completion. In addition Part 1, Article IV of the Treaty of Cleito is to be rescinded. A copy of this is sent to members of the League and their approval shall be transmitted to Atlantis.

Quoted

No replies with regardsto Italian victory in the Schneider Cup or the proposal for the Frankfurt Admendments?

I was lost on the Frankfurt Admendments preposal, it seemed like it was being writen as fact and not a preposal. We also haven't renewed talk on the amendments and I think we should, for Kaisers sake.

The picture´s cool.... ;o)

(Still thinking about the Frankfurt thing....)

No reply from the Japanese regarding the Schneider trophy because they are not too happy that their entry managed to get lost in the sky. He was last seen heading for Detroit.
As for the Frankfurt Admendments... Japan does not really care as it all happens on the other side of the world. Current status is that they would approve almost anything that is proposed (almost anything).

You let Manzo fly the Trrophy?!?! Jesus!

He was using a disguise but his flying 'skills' were unmistakable.

BTW, "dessin de Hideaki Ozawa."
That explains why "the picture's cool".
:-)

???

To be serious: I always wondered why the Italian could build superb high speed floatplanes but later missed the train for good fighter planes. Probably one of you can enlighten me?

If you go to
http://www.hydroretro.net/coupefr/avions/m39.htm
then you'll see the "dessin de Hideaki Ozawa" underneath the picture (meaning "Picture by Hideaki Ozawa").
It's a cool picture because a Japanese guy made it. :-)

The problem was twofold;

1. Experience in the Spanish civil war showed that the radial engined biplane was sufficient and there was no need to go for monoplanes. Hence the Fiat CR.42, which wasn't that bad compared to Hurricanes.

2. The virtual monopoly by Fiat with regards to arms in general. They didn't develop high performance engines mostly because it cost money. In the long run it would be better to go for a high performance engine and then sell it on to other countries and your own.

So the first generation of aircraft, the 0-series didn't compare well to their inline contemporaries. Then you have things like the MC.202 and Re.2001-2 which get inline engines. The MC.202 was designed by the same person as the earlier racing seaplanes. It removed the radial engine and used a lower drag inline and featured various aerodynamic improvements. As a result, the MC.202 was fast and superbly maneuverable, easily able to match mid-level Spitfires and Early P51s. The 5-series weren't produced in large numbers, but featured 1500hp engines and were basically faster and more heavily armed whilst retaining the maneuverability. The MC.205 and Fiat. G.55 were a match for any other fighter in WWII.

There are many exceptions to this however showing the ingenuity of the Italian designers. Getting as much speed as possible from small engines. e.g. the SAI 207/403 managed 400mph on only 750hp.

As for high speed floatplanes, the Macchi MC.72, the final Italian floatplane racer. Its record speed for piston engined floatplanes remains unbroken. The record speed for floatplanes was broken by a russian jet in the 1960s. Of course, it does help when you have 3000hp to play with.

Thanks for these information. One probably should add that those late-war italian fighter planes were all powered by German engines (either DB603 or DB605) because Italy wasn´t able to produce high performance piston engines until the very end.

India agrees that it is necessary to conclude the Frankfurt Amendment discussions one way or another.

To clarify, does Italy no longer have reservations about German submarine and mine warfare forces?

Quoted

To clarify, does Italy no longer have reservations about German submarine and mine warfare forces?

Italy's proposal covers Germany's limitation on submarines. Italy has no problems with mines.