Macchi C.202 Folgore
Macchi · Italy · first flew 1940 · fighter
The Macchi C.202 Folgore (Lightning) was an Italian single-seat fighter that became one of the best Italian aircraft of World War II, combining a powerful German DB 601 engine with a refined airframe derived from the earlier C.200. It gave the Regia Aeronautica a competitive fighter over North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Italian WWII fighter with licence-built Daimler-Benz DB 601 inline
- Sleek low-wing monoplane with distinctive humped cockpit fairing
- Regia Aeronautica's best fighter of the early war years
A sleek, elegant low-wing monoplane with a narrow liquid-cooled engine giving a pointed nose — similar in concept to the Bf 109 but with a more rounded fuselage and distinctly Italian aesthetic, including an asymmetric radiator fairing.
Specifications
- The Macchi C.202 Folgore has a length of 8.85 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.58 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 600 km/h (373 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in August 1940, the C.202 entered service in 1941 and proved capable against Allied fighters including the Hurricane and early Spitfires. Over 1,100 were built. Its major weakness was light armament — only two machine guns initially — which the later C.205 Veltro resolved with additional cannon.
Variants
The C.202 was produced in series I through XI with progressive refinements; the C.205 Veltro used a more powerful DB 605 engine and heavier armament and was effectively a C.202 evolution.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Regia Aeronautica in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Sicily, and Italy; some continued with the ANR (Italian Co-Belligerent forces) after 1943.
Related aircraft
- Macchi C.205 Veltro
- Macchi C.200 Saetta
- Macchi M.6
- Arado Ar 240
- Bell XFL-1 Airabonita
- Bloch MB.700
- CANSA FC.12
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