Anonymous, 29.06.2022 01:29 "Often compared in concept and design with the Gloster Gladiator, against which it frequently fought in 1940-1..." An awful lot of ink has been expended comparing the CR.42 with the Gladiator. The only trouble is that the Gladiator came out in 1934 and the RAF already considered it to be obsolete by 1939, when the CR.42 first flew. The only reason the RAF was still flying the Gladiator during 1939-40 was because they were still available, and they did not have enough fighters in their inventory at the time not to use them. However, Fiat already had an all-metal, low-wing monoplane fighter with retractible landing gear and enclosed cockpit before the C.R.42 ever even flew, namely the Fiat G.50. Under the circumstances, one cannot help wondering what the Italian Air Force was thinking to have preferred the CR.42.

Graham Clayton, e-mail, 26.12.2021 13:14 The CR.42 fought alongside the Luftwaffe, fought as a part of the Luftwaffe, and fought against the Luftwaffe.

Barry, 02.12.2010 17:57 Belgium received 34, Hungary at least 40 amd Sweden 72. The one off CR42B had a 1010 hp DB601A inverted vee engine which gave it a top speed of 323 mph reportedly making it the fastest ever bi-plane fighter!

ZR, 06.12.2008 19:47 Of course yes, it had a full throttle height of 3800m, where the Military Power output was about 618kW @ 2400rpm. The same engine was installed on the Macchi C200 and the Fiat G50

rafair, e-mail, 20.02.2008 13:11 Was the A74 engine supercharged ?

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