Macchi C.202 Folgore

what is it?

The Macchi C.202 Folgore (Italian "thunderbolt") is an Italian fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Macchi Aeronautica. It was operated mainly by the Regia Aeronautica (RA; Royal Italian Air Force) in and around the Second World War. According to aviation author David Mondey, the Folgore has been considered to be one of the best wartime fighters to serve in large numbers with the Regia Aeronautica.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 10.6 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 600 km/htop speed
• range 765 kmwithout refuelling
• size 2,930 kgmax take-off weight
• built 1,100made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 86 years ago, in 1940.
• 🏎️Top speed is 4.6× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 10.6 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🏔️Can fly 1.3× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1940-08-10

introduced

1941

retired

1951

status

retired

number built

1,100

role

fighter

makers

Alenia Aermacchi

engines

1× Alfa Romeo RA.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone

crew

1

length

8.9 m

wingspan

10.6 m

height

3.5 m

max take-off weight

2,930 kg

top speed

600 km/h

range

765 km

ceiling

11,500 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.