Pomilio PE
Pomilio · Italy · first flew 1917 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Pomilio PE was a First World War Italian armed reconnaissance biplane designed and built by the Pomilio brothers. It was developed from the earlier Pomilio PC and PD.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.95 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fully cowled nose engine with a vertical radiator in front
- Two-seat biplane with open tandem cockpits
- Triangular fin later replaced by a larger trapezoid fin
The fully cowled engine with a vertical radiator in front changed the appearance from the earlier PC and PD, whose cylinder heads were exposed.
Specifications
- The Pomilio PE has a length of 8.95 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.8 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 195 km/h (121 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was an improvement on the PD, fitted with a more powerful Fiat A.12bis engine, and it entered production in October 1917. Changes were made throughout the production run.
Variants
The PE was built in reconnaissance and dual-control trainer versions, 103 being trainers. Later aircraft had synchronised forward-firing machine guns as well as the observer's Lewis gun.
Where you'll see it
It served with the Corpo Aeronautico Militare and later the Regia Aeronautica.
Related aircraft
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