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Versions
Towards
the end of 1939 it was decided, in accordance with the ministry, to affect a
series of modifications on the G.50, to improve certain characteristics. The
principal variations were to partially redesign fuselage, rendering retractable
tail wheel and to increase fuel volume from 316 to 419 liter. In the summer of
1940, CMASA completed the production of 244 G.50 and proceeded to modify tooling
in order to adopt it new shape G.50, marked “bis”. In the same time FIAT
Aeritalia had received an order for 315 G.50bis and rapidly set up a production
line for the new model.
The first flights took place in the period September to November 1940 and served for various fitting to the craft. A slight delay in the delivery of the first production samples was caused by necessity for introducing certain devices to obviate the harmful effects caused by the use in the desert North African theatres. In fact, a progressive series of inefficiencies due to sand came to light, with the units which operated in Africa. At the beginning of 1941, both CMASA and FIAT Aeritalia started delivery of G.50 bis AS to the units in Africa.
The urgent need for a trainer with the right features for offering a phased
change-over from biplanes of the CR 30/32 types to the new fighter monoplanes
made it advisable to develop a two seat version of the G.50. In 1938 at CMASA,
who had been assigned to the construction of the G 50 B, a mock-up took shape
therefore which, like the single seater, had open back cockpit. After the
customary evaluation tests and those for final out, occupying partly at the
CMASA air strip at Pisa S. Giusto and partly at Guidognia, the first production
G 50 B’s were handed over to the Gorizia and Castiglion de’l Lago fighter
training schools. Turn out, which in 1940 had been of a dozen or so machines,
went up to the region of the eighty the following year. Some examples continued
to be built in 1942 and 1943 to aggregate of 108 planes. In 1944 a number of G
50 B remained in the northern Italy were taken in hand and ravished, being
intended subsequently for fighter training units of the R.S.I.
The B model was modified into various versions, some built and the others
remaining on the drawing board. The main one present converting the G 50 B into
a two seat mono controlled reconnaissance plane. In the aft cockpit a glazed
panel was inserted underfoot and there were long focus camera installed. From
this “Ricignizione” was derived version for deck operations, for the Italian
never operational aircraft carrier “Acquila”. The new details were arrestor hook
and two machine guns in wings.
Data for B is as follow: wing span 11 m, length 8,03 m, height 2,8 m, wing area 18,25 sq.m., empty weight 1940 kg, take off weight 2340, top speed 456 km/h, top ceiling 9100 m, and range 645 km.
With the intention of increasing armament power of the G 50 bis for ground attack actions, in the spring of 1942 were asked to drawn up plans for arranging wings two 12,7 mm machine guns. The prototype was made by converting of G 50 bis MM 8595. The solutions remained at experimental stage. The plane were marked G 50 bis A.
G
50 ter was intention to adopt new powerplant A 76 RC 40, which developed 986
H.P. Various modifications were done on the prototype’s undercarriage and wings.
Basic idea was to install two 20 mm cannons in wings. First flight was in July
17, 1941 but the project was abandoned in reward to the incoming G 55. Technical
data: length 8,19 m, height 2,88 m, empty weight 2104 kg, take off weight 2704
kg, top speed 530 km/h, top ceiling 10000 m and range 1000 km.
The G 50 V, MM 479, was completed in summer 1941 in CMASA workshop. Idea was to adopt in line DB engine as a powerplant. Prototype performed 580 km/h level flight but as well with ter model, project was rejected in reward to G 55. Except of above mentioned versions, there were more versions of the plane: G 50 seaplane, G 50 bis N for aircraft carrier (example built), G 50 bis dive bomber, G 50 bis night fighter, G 51 twin engine fighter, G 52 fighter and G 53 two seat reconnaissance with DB601 engine.
Full data available on CD