MC.200 Saetta Walk Around

Macchi's MC.200 Saetta (Thunderbolt) was one of the triumvirate of new fighter aircraft which entered Regia Aeronautica service in 1939. While the CR.42 was the last of the fighter biplanes, the MC.200 and the Fiat G.50 ushered in the age of Italian metal monoplane fighters. While basically outclassed by its opponents, the MC.200 saw considerable service in the Mediterranean and Eastern Fronts, and also provided much of the airframe for the gorgeous MC.202, generally considered the best Italian fighter of World War II. The aircraft featured in these photographs is on display at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, and is one of a very small number (perhaps 2?) of survivors of the type. This aircraft wears the markings of the 372^a Squadriglia, but operated by the 165^a Squadriglia in North Africa. Captured near Benghazi in November 1942, this aircraft was sent to the United States for war bonds drives. Eventually, the aircraft was restored by Aermacchi for the USAF Museum. The photo above shows it in the Museum Annex in 1995, with a Douglas C-133 lurking over it. The plane is now on display in the Second World War Gallery of the main museum complex.

The MC.200 was, like the CR.42 and the G.50, powered by an 800 hp Fiat A74 radial engine. The cowling and propeller can be seen in this shot, with details of the propeller boss clearly visible. The copper-coloured engine cowl ring is prominent, and the straps which hold the cowling access panels can be seen going around the cowling (one immediately behind the cowl ring, and the other further back underneath the aerodynamic bumps on the cowl for the cylinder heads).

On the left side of the nose can be seen the blast tubes for the twin 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted above the cowl. These were the aircraft's only armament. The cowl flaps are also visible, as is one of the unusual engine exhausts, which point straight down.

Incredibly, the MC.200 had an open cockpit, in deference to the concerns of Italian pilots that visibility would be compromised by a full canopy. I feel sorry for the pilots who had to fly this plane over Stalingrad! The rear portions of the canopy folded down to each side to allow pilot access to the cockpit.

The MC.200 had a wide-track landing gear, which it passed on to the more developed MC.202. As can be seen here, the landing gear design was quite simple.

This shot is looking towards the aft of the main gear well. The retraction gear for the inner doors was quite simple, and would close as the main wheels entered the bay. The forward portion of the main gear well opened directly onto the engine accessories; the struts towards the top of the picture are part of the engine bearers.

The tail of the MC.200 was also passed on essentially unaltered to the MC.202 and later MC.205. This photo illustrates the Cross of Savoy marking on the tail quite well, and also shows the elevator-down position the MC.200 seems to have taken on the ground.

These photos, while not of outstanding quality, are included to show the colours of the MC.200 cockpit. I took these shots in a Hail Mary style, over my head and hoping for the best. The first of these photos shows the cockpit floor, with the stick in the centre. The silver bar cutting across the middle are the rudder pedals, with kidney-shaped plates underneath for the pilot's feet to rest on.

A shot of the cockpit sill, showing the gunsight and some portions of the instrument panel. The black crackle finish on the instrument panel is very similar to that applied to US aircraft of the same period, while the interior colour is reminiscent of the British interior gray-green.

Our final shot is of the right side of the cockpit. The engine ignition controls are mounted on a small panel; unlike many of its contemporaries, the MC.200 did not have proper side consoles.

I know this photo coverage is rather spotty, but I hope it is still of use to modelers working on one of the kits available of this important Italian fighter. As well, many of these photos could help somebody building an MC.202, since some of the details shown are common to both aircraft.