Fiat CR.1
Fiat Aviazione · Italy · first flew 1923 · fighter
The Fiat CR.1 was Italy's first post-war single-seat fighter biplane, designed by Celestino Rosatelli and introducing the sesquiplane layout and distinctive W-strut bracing that would characterise Fiat fighters for the next decade.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.05 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Italian interwar sesquiplane biplane fighter
- Distinctive Warren-truss interplane struts
- Celeste Rosatelli's first fighter design for Fiat
Sesquiplane with the upper wing significantly larger than the lower, distinctive W-form interplane struts, inline water-cooled engine, and twin synchronised Vickers guns — the template for all subsequent Fiat biplane fighters.
Specifications
- The Fiat CR.1 has a length of 6.05 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 283 km/h (176 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The CR.1 entered service with the Regia Aeronautica in 1924 and approximately 240 were built, serving as Italy's primary fighter through the late 1920s. The design philosophy Rosatelli developed — sesquiplane wings, Warren-truss struts, inline engine — was refined through the CR.20, CR.32, and CR.42 series.
Variants
CR.1 standard; CR.1bis with minor modifications; some exported to Latvia.
Where you'll see it
Served as the Regia Aeronautica's front-line fighter from 1924 to around 1930, then continued in training roles; exported to Latvia.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.