FIAT

During the course of the 1st World War, the 250 HP A.12-1 (and later the A.12 bis of 300-320 HP) aircraft engines were those produced in the greatest quantity in the FIAT workshops of Corso Dante. These were fitted to many Allied aircraft, including those of the British Royal Flying Corps, who preferred it for its heavy bombers over the Rolls-Royce “Eagle”, despite its higher cost. It was only in 1914 that FIAT began to build aircraft, initially under licence from Farman, building the 5b equipped with the 100 HP A.10 engine. In 1915-16 these began to be superseded by the “SP” series (SP.2 and SP.3). The “SP’s”, designed by engineers Savoia and Pomilio and refined by the dtam (Direzione Tecnica Aviazione Militare), were powered by the 250 HP S.12 engine. The Farman-Savoia was also known as the “type 1914”.

 

 

The largest number of aircraft came from the factories in Via Madama Cristina and Via Nizza, where, following construction of Farman type 1914’s, production was concentrated on the SP.2 and SP.3, all robust but slow aircraft with twin tail booms.The largest number of aircraft came from the factories in Via Madama Cristina and Via Nizza, where, following construction of Farman type 1914’s, production was concentrated on the SP.2 and SP.3, all robust but slow aircraft with twin tail booms.By June 1914, the constant rise in production and the expectation of continued increases due to the continuation of the war induced FIAT to set up a company, the SIA (Società Italiana Aviazione), that became the vehicle into which all the former aeronautical activities were channelled. It quickly became operational from the hangars of Mirafiori. The head of the sia design office was Eng. Torretta, who in collaboration with the dtam, launched the “7b” project towards the end of 1916, powered by the 250 HP a.12 engine. This went into production the following year.

The “7b1” and the “7b2”were chosen by Captain Laureati to make both of his two famous long-range flights – the non-stop Turin-Naples-Turin and Turin-London.
It was also with a SIA “7b1” that Gabriele d’Annunzio organized the reconnaissance mission preparatory to what became known as the “Mockery of Buccari”. The SIA 7b1 took off from Tesséra aerodrome (Venice) with 2nd Lt. Lombardi as co-pilot and 2nd Lt. Campacci as observer and overflew the ports of Pola, Rijeka and Buccari. Campacci was able to take many photographs of the enemy installations and ships in the harbours, essential for the attack by sea which followed a few days later.By 1918, the sia production had reached 7-8 aircraft per day and became renamed FIAT-Aviazione.The 7b1 evolved into the 7b2 which sported a 300 HP a.12 Mk2 engine. It outclassed the most modern Austro-German aircraft both in speed and armament. Some 20 of these were sold to the Usa after being test-flown by a group of American pilots who came to Italy specifically for this with the Mayor of New York, Fiorello La Guardia. Thanks to the development of  its aircraft production during the war, Turin attained a preeminent position in the Italian aeronautical industry.

Following the 2nd World War, the FIAT Aircraft Section, which has moved to its own premises at Caselle in 1949, with the installation of a technical department for flight testing, built an Aircraft Electronics Center followed by the creation of experimental departments for the construction and testing of jet engines. This also began the epoch of such famous test pilots as Agostini, Cus, Catella, Marsan, Bignamini, Sanseverino, Quarantelli, Trevisan.
Following the 2nd World War, the FIAT Aircraft Section, which has moved to its own premises at Caselle in 1949, with the installation of a technical department for flight testing, built an Aircraft Electronics Center followed by the creation of experimental departments for the construction and testing of jet engines. This also began the epoch of such famous test pilots as Agostini, Cus, Catella, Marsan, Bignamini, Sanseverino, Quarantelli, Trevisan.It is worth recalling, just as historic fact, that from its origins up until the year 1962 FIAT had produced:

• 55 types of aeronautical engine;
• 166 types of aircraft between prototypes and derivates; for a total production of:
• 32,000 aircraft engines;
• 13,000 aircraft which were sold to 27 countries.

This is neither the time nor the place to recount the history of FIAT’s aeronautical exploits – sufficient to say they began as an engine constructor (in 1908) then progressed into the construction of aircraft through the SIA (in 1916), FIAT Aeritalia (in 1926), CMASA – Costruzioni Meccaniche Aeronautiche sa of Pisa (in 1931), and cansa of Cameri, when they acquired the former Gabardini (in 1939). However, at the same time, it is impossible to proceed without mentioning two of their most important designers, men who made history: Celestino Rosatelli and Giuseppe Gabrielli. Rosatelli participated actively in the day to day affairs of the Aero Club of Turin becoming a Board Member in 1927.