Editing Macchi C.200 Saetta (section)

==Development==

===Origins===
In early 1935 [[Mario Castoldi]], lead designer of Italian aircraft company Macchi, commenced work on a series of design studies for a modern [[monoplane]] fighter aircraft, which was to be furnished with retractable [[landing gear]].<ref name = "catt 3">Cattaneo 1966, p. 3.</ref> Castoldi had previously designed several racing aircraft that had competed for the [[Schneider Trophy]], including the [[Macchi M.39]], which won the competition in 1926. He had also designed the [[Macchi M.C.72|M.C. 72]]. From an early stage, the concept aircraft that emerged from these studies became known as the ''C.200''.<ref name = "catt 3"/>

In 1936, in the aftermath of [[Italian East Africa|Italy's campaigns in East Africa]], an official program was initiated with the aim of completely re-equipping the ''Regia Aeronautica'' with a new [[interceptor aircraft]] of modern design. The 10 February 1936 specifications,<ref>Sgarlato 2008, p. 4.</ref> formulated and published by the ''Ministero dell'Aeronatica'', called for an aircraft powered by a single [[radial engine]], which was to be capable of a top speed of {{cvt|500|km/h}} and a climb rate of 6,000 meters in 5 minutes.<ref>Sgarlato 2008, p. 5.</ref> Additional requirements were soon specified: the aircraft was to be capable of being used as an interceptor with a flight endurance time of two hours and armed with a single (later increased to two) {{cvt|12.7|mm|2}} [[machine gun]].<ref name = "catt 3"/>

===Prototypes===
In response to the prescribed demand for a modern fighter aircraft, Castoldi submitted a proposal for an aircraft based upon his 1935 design studies.<ref name = "catt 3"/> On 24 December 1937, the first [[prototype]] (MM.336) C.200 conducted its [[maiden flight]] at [[Lonate Pozzolo]], [[Varese]], with Macchi chief test pilot [[Giuseppe Burei]] at the controls. Officials within the ministry and Macchi's design team fought over the retention of the characteristic hump used to enhance cockpit visibility; after a protracted argument, the feature was ultimately retained.<ref name = "catt 3"/>

The first prototype was followed by the second prototype early the following year. During testing, the aircraft reportedly attained {{cvt|805|km/h}} in a dive free of negative tendencies such as [[Aeroelasticity#Flutter|flutter]] and other [[aeroelasticity|aeroelastic]] issues; although it could achieve only {{cvt|500|km/h}} in level flight due to a lack of engine power.<ref name = "catt 3"/> Nevertheless, this capability was superior than the performance of the competing [[Fiat G.50 Freccia]], [[Reggiane Re.2000]], [[Aeronautica Umbra Trojani AUT.18|A.U.T. 18]], [[IMAM Ro.51]], and [[Caproni-Vizzola F.5]]; of these, the Re.2000 was seen as the most capable of the C.200's rivals, being more maneuverable and capable of greater performance at low altitude but lacking in structural strength.<ref name = "catt 3"/>

The C.200 benefitted greatly from preparations that were being made for major expansion of the Italian Air Force, known as Programme R.<ref name = "catt 3"/> In 1938, the C.200 was selected as the winner of the tender "Caccia I" (Fighter 1) of the ''Regia Aeronautica''. This choice came in spite of mixed results during flight testing at [[Guidonia Air Base|Guidonia airport]]; on 11 June 1938, Major [[Ugo Borgogno]] warned that when tight turns at beyond 90° were attempted, the aircraft became extremely difficult to control, including a tendency to turn upside down, mostly to the right and entering into a violent [[Flat spin (aviation)|flat spin]].<ref name="de Marchi 1994">de Marchi 1994, {{page needed|date=June 2017}}</ref>

===Production===
Shortly following the completion of the second prototype, an initial order for 99 production aircraft was placed with Macchi.<ref name = "catt 3"/> The G.50, which during the same flight tests held at Guidonia airport had out-turned the Macchi,<ref name="de Marchi 1994"/> was also placed in limited production, because it had been determined that the former could be brought into service earlier. The decision, or indecision, involved in producing multiple overlapping types led to greater inefficiencies in both production and in operation.<ref name = "catt 3 4">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 3–4.</ref> In June 1939, production of the C.200 formally commenced.

The most serious handicap was the low production rate of the type. According to some reports, in excess of 22,000 hours in production time was attributed to the use of antiquated construction technology.<ref>Marcon May 2000, pp. 28–38.</ref> A lack of urgency shown by the authorities regarding standardisation was also viewed as having negatively affected mass production efforts, particularly in light of the lack of availability of key resources in Italy at the time.<ref name = "catt 3"/> In order to improve the rate of output, the C.200 remained almost unchanged throughout its production life, save for adjustments to the cockpit in response to pilot feedback.<ref name = "catt 5"/>

In addition to Macchi (who completed 397 airframes), the C.200 was also constructed by Italian aircraft companies [[Società Italiana Ernesto Breda (556)]] and [[SAI Ambrosini (200)]] under a [[subcontractor|subcontracting]] arrangement intended to produce 1,200 aircraft between 1939 and 1943.<ref name = "catt 5">Cattaneo 1966, p. 5.</ref> However, during 1940, the termination of all production of the type was considered in response to aerodynamic performance problems that had caused the loss of multiple aircraft; the type was retained after changes were made to the wing to rectify a tendency to go into an uncontrollable spin that could occur during turns.<ref name = "catt 6"/>

In an attempt to improve performance, a C.201 prototype was created with a {{cvt|750|kW}} [[List of aircraft engines#F to K|Fiat A.76]] engine;<ref name = "catt 9"/> work on this prototype was later abandoned in favour of the [[Daimler-Benz DB 601]]-powered [[Macchi C.202|C.202]]. At one point, it was intended that the ''Saetta'' was to have been replaced outright by the C.202 after only a single year in production. However, the C.200's service life was extended because [[Alfa Romeo]] proved to be incapable of producing enough of the RA.1000 (license-built DB 601) engines needed by the newer aircraft. This contributed to the decision to construct further C.200s that used C.202 components as an interim measure while waiting for the production rate of the latter's engine to be increased.

At the beginning of 1940, Denmark was set to place an order for 12 C.200s to replace its aging [[Hawker Nimrod]] fighters, but the deal fell through when [[Operation Weserübung|Germany invaded Denmark]].<ref name = "catt 6"/><ref name="Balsved">{{cite web |last1=Balsved |first1=Johnny E. |translator-last1=Arvedsen |translator-first1=L.-H. Kongsbak |title=History of Danish naval aviation |url=http://www.navalhistory.dk/English/NavAir/NavalAviation.htm |date=27 January 2006 |website=navalhistory.dk |location=Copenhagen |language=en, da |access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref> A total of 1,153 ''Saettas'' were eventually produced, but only 33 remained operational by the time [[Armistice with Italy|armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces]] in September 1943.<ref name = "catt 9"/>