the Re 2005 could fight in the most difficult and important
scenario of the Italian war ,giving evidence to its good qualities.To evaluate
how the Re 2005 was considered from pilots who flew it , it can be used the
sentence of General Vittorio Minguzzi :"all the series 5 fighters
(Macchi 205,Fiat G55 and Re 2005) were
competitive with the best aliies fighters,
including Mustang and Spitfire IX,each one
getting in evidence for a particular flight
character. The Re 2005 in particular is the best
in handling at high altitudes".
The Reggiane Re 2005
Sagittario was the ultimate refinement of a
series of fighters which started with the Re
2000 Falco I and continued with the Re 2001
Ariete I and Re 2002 Ariete II.The 2005 was a
turn round in the Reggiane airplanes,an occasion
offered by the avaiability of the new engine
Daimler-Benz DB-605 capable of producing 1475
HP..
The Reggiane technical staff
leaded by Ing.Alessio and Ing.Longhi devoted
itself with much resolve to the realization of
the new fighter and the result was of great
excellence.The complete d machine had little in
common with the other planes of the Reggiane
fighter series. The wing structure and the
empennages were retained ,while the fuselage,
undercarriage,wing profiles and armament were
completely new. The construction of the first
prototype was started in October 1941 and
completed at the end of 1942.
After the first flights the
prototype was sent to the Experimental Air Force
Centre of Guidonia,where some modifications were
requested and the Re 2005 proved to have better
performance than the others series 5 fighters,
with a top speed of 678 km\h at 2000 m. The Air
Force ordered 750 Reggiane, but only few were
produced.A series was produced also for the
Luftwaffe. The last model in the series was the
excellent Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer).
The wings were improved and
enlarged, with new landing gear and heavy
armament of 3 20mm cannon and 2 12.7mm machine
guns. The first prototype was ready in December
1941, but lacked the engine for 4 months from
Germany (the Daimler Benz inline). The first
flight was on 5/9/42 , after the MC.205 and G.55
had both flown. The Re.2005 was fast and
maneuverable and used the Fiat 1,475 hp inline
license built version of the Daimler-Benz DB 605
engine. Maximum speed was 391 mph, a service
ceiling of 40,000 ft and a range of 786 miles.
However, only 29 were built.
In May of 1943, the first
Sagittarios entered service with the Regia
Aeronautica. The first prototype and several of
the zero series aircraft were used operationally
by the 362a Squadriglia, 22o Gruppo at
Naples-Capodichino starting in May 1943, being
used to defend Rome and Naples. The squadron had
developed a rather daring method of attacking
Allied B-17s which involved diving head-on with
all guns blazing, then flipping the aircraft
over on its back and diving away at the last
minute.
The Reggiane had good
behaviour in close dogfight and , according to
General Minguzzi, who flew both Re 2005 and
Spitfire, was even better than the Spit in tight
turns and handling.The operative life of the
Sagittario was concluded by the Armistice , that
came in the September 1943. The Re.2005's
operational career began in May 1943 with the
362nd Squadriglia and used to defend Sicily and
Italy against Allied bombers until 8/26/43.
After the armistice, the Germans seized 13 and
used them to defend the Romanian oil fields.
Re 2005 was used also in
R.S.I. (Italian fascist Social
Republic-costituited in the north of italy after
Allies invasion)with good result and by
luftwaffe.About Luftwaffe's use of the
Sagittario many say that it was used to defend
Bucharest and Berlin; their fate thereafter
being unknown.At least one Re 2005 was captured
by the U.S., and the fuselage of one Re 2005
survives in the Museo Aeronautico Caproni di
Taledo in Milano, been restored by GAVS
Our Aircraft have full animations and amaizing
details
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