Breda Ba.88 Lince
Breda · Italy · first flew 1936 · bomber
The Breda Ba.88 Lince (Lynx) was an Italian twin-engine heavy fighter and light bomber that set world speed records as a prototype but proved severely underpowered and overweight in operational service. It became notorious as one of the least effective combat aircraft of World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.79 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine Italian WWII light bomber with twin tail
- Twin boom-like tail fins
- Notoriously poor operational performance despite record-setting prototype
Identified by twin engines on a mid-wing, a distinctive twin-fin tail, and the wide fuselage housing a two-man crew in a heavily glazed nose section.
Specifications
- The Breda Ba.88 Lince has a length of 10.79 m (35 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.6 m (51 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 490 km/h (304 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The prototype set a closed-circuit speed record in 1937, generating great optimism. However, when fitted with full military equipment, armour, and armament, the operational Ba.88 was so underpowered that it could barely fly. Used briefly in North Africa in 1940, it proved entirely unsuitable for combat and was quickly withdrawn. Aircraft were sometimes used as decoys on airfields rather than as flying machines.
Variants
The Ba.88M was a modified variant attempted for various roles; none resolved the fundamental performance problems. A few were trialled as ground-attack aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Brief and disastrous operational service with the Regia Aeronautica in North Africa in 1940; withdrawn almost immediately due to inability to perform missions.
Related aircraft
- Breda Ba.65
- Breda Ba.27
- Breda Ba.64
- Breda Ba.201
- Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
- Blenheim
- Dornier Do 19
- Fairey Battle
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