Editing Macchi C.205 Veltro (section)

==Design and development==
===Background===
During 1941, seeking to further improve the performance of the C.202 fighter, the ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]'' decided to [[licensed production|license-build]] the German [[Daimler-Benz DB 605]] {{convert|1,100|kW|hp|abbr=on}} liquid-cooled [[supercharger|supercharged]] inverted [[V12 engine|V-12]] engine in Italy, which Fiat produced as the RA.1050 R.C.58 ''Tifone'' (Typhoon). Fighter manufacturers were invited to enter versions of their designs using this engine as the ''caccia della serie 5 ''("series-5 fighter") and were provided with imported DB 605s for prototype use. All of the designs used the number 5 in the name, thus Macchi's submission became the C.205 (instead of C.202bis or C.203).<ref name="Mattioli 10">Mattioli 2002, p. 10.</ref>

Macchi had adopted a licence-built [[Daimler-Benz DB 601|DB 601]] engine for the C.202, an engine which was closely comparable in size to the later, more powerful DB 605.<ref name="Mattioli 6-7">Mattioli 2002, pp. 6-7.</ref> This meant that the C.202 airframe could be easily adapted for the DB 605; accordingly, Macchi opted to have the fuselage remain identical aft of the [[Firewall (engine)|firewall]].<ref name="Mattioli 10"/> The resulting aircraft, which was designated C.205V ''Veltro'', was considered to be a stop-gap measure while the definitive variant was intended to be the 205N ''Orione'' (N stood for "new").<ref name="Giorgio Massiniello">Massiniello 1997, {{page needed|date=January 2025}}.</ref><ref name="Mattioli 910">Mattioli 2002, pp. 9-10.</ref>

On 19 April 1942, the C.205V ''Veltro'' performed its [[maiden flight]]; much of the subsequent flight testing was conducted at [[Guidonia Airfield]] on the outskirts of Rome.<ref name="Mattioli 10"/> Testing revealed that both the Fiat G.55 ''Centauro'' and Re.2005 ''Sagittario'' were capable of greater performance while flying at high altitudes, largely due to their larger wing area. In fact, the ''Veltro'' used the same wing as the earlier ''Folgore'' but its weight had increased from {{convert|2,350|to|2,581|kg|lbs|abbr=on}} and the [[wing loading]] from 140&nbsp;kg/m<sup>2</sup> to 153.6&nbsp;kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The ''Veltro''{{'}}s performance was similar to German designs with their higher wing loading, and was at its best at medium altitudes where it could reach {{convert|642|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The C.205 ''Veltro'' was placed in production until the G.55 and the Re.2005 could become available.<ref name="Giorgio Massiniello"/><ref name="Mattioli 1011">Mattioli 2002, pp. 10-11.</ref>

The first 100 ''Veltro Serie I'' were solely armed with machine guns, however, many aircraft were also fitted with the 20&nbsp;mm [[MG 151 cannon]]. There were no ''Serie II'' built, but 150 ''Serie III'' were ordered, which were fitted with wing cannons as a standard.<ref name="Giorgio Massiniello"/><ref name="Mattioli 10"/>

Some delay was incurred by the necessity of re-engineering the aircraft's forward fuselage, leading to several months passing before the "205N" was flight-capable. On 1 November 1942, the C.205N1 made its first flight; at this point, the armament consisting of a single 20&nbsp;mm cannon that fired through the propeller hub along with four cowling-mounted 12.7&nbsp;mm (.5&nbsp;in) [[Breda-SAFAT machine gun]]s for which it carried 300–400 and 1,400 rounds of ammunition respectively. This configuration allowed for a higher ceiling at the cost of a reduced speed [{{convert|629|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}]. The better aerodynamics (with a longer and more streamlined rear fuselage) provided an advantage over the Macchi C.205V/MG151 [{{convert|620|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}].<ref name="Giorgio Massiniello"/>

On 19 May 1943, the second prototype, designated C.205N2, took place; during testing, it reportedly attained {{convert|628|km/h|mph}}, which was marginally slower than the C.205N1 with a correspondingly longer time to reach its operational altitude. It was equipped with a single engine-mounted 20&nbsp;mm cannon, a pair of wing-mounted 20&nbsp;mm cannon and two fuselage-mounted 12.7&nbsp;mm (.5&nbsp;in) machine guns. The ammunition load comprised 600 or more 12.7&nbsp;mm (.5&nbsp;in) rounds and a maximum of around 900 20&nbsp;mm rounds which was much heavier than that carried by the C.205N1 and more than that of the Reggiane and the Fiat which carried 490–550 and 650 20&nbsp;mm rounds respectively. Although 1,200 aircraft were ordered, the design was abandoned due to the [[Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces|Italian armistice]].

The N-series aircraft should have performed better than the C.205V but Macchi test pilot Guido Carestiato noted that their flying characteristics were inferior to the lighter and more agile C.205 ''Veltro''. The later series also experienced overheating while climbing.<ref name="Lembo p. 5.">Lembo 2002, p. 5.</ref>

===Design===
The C.205, known initially as the C.202bis, was generally similar to the previous ''Folgore'',<ref name="Mattioli 10"/> although there were numerous differences in the [[fuselage]]: the tail was larger, the [[cockpit]] and its hump were redesigned, the antenna mast was bigger and some modifications were made to the wings.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} Both the C.202 and C.205 had the port wing 8" longer than the starboard to compensate [[Lift (force)|lift]] for engine [[torque]].<ref name = "cleaver 86">Cleaver 2024, p. 86.</ref> While new-build C.205s were furnished with a more aerodynamic retractable tailwheel, converted C.202 airframes remained the fixed tailwheel arrangement instead.<ref name="Mattioli 10"/>

The C.205 was a single-seat, all-metal, [[monoplane]] fighter, intended primarily as an interceptor but with [[Ground-attack aircraft|ground attack]] and escort capabilities. The long nose housed the DB605 engine which drove a three-blade, [[Constant speed propeller|constant-speed metal propeller]], with the main [[fuel tank]] situated between the engine and the [[cockpit]]. The C.205 was fitted with a twin-barrel [[radiator]], which was positioned underneath the centre section of the fuselage directly beneath the cockpit; this arrangement provided superior airflow, and thereby engine cooling, to its counterpart on the C.202.<ref name="Mattioli 10"/> Within the aircraft's compact rear section was the radio equipment, [[oxygen]] cylinder and an 80&nbsp;L (20&nbsp;US gal) reserve fuel tank. The wings were made of light aluminium alloys and steel, having two [[Spar (aviation)|spar]]s and three sections, housing two additional fuel tanks, and the fully retractable wide-set main [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] gear. Apart from the all-metal [[Flap (aircraft)|flap]]s in the inner wing, all the other control surfaces were metal-framed and fabric-covered. ''Veltros'' had [[self-sealing fuel tank]]s, an armoured seat, and armoured windscreen as standard. The cramped cockpit possessed a limited field-of-view, but some examples were fitted with a rear-view mirror.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The 827&nbsp;kg/1,823&nbsp;lb (normal) payload consisted of the fully equipped pilot (85&nbsp;kg/187&nbsp;lb), fuel (307&nbsp;kg/677&nbsp;lb), two Breda machine guns and two Mauser [[MG 151 cannon|MG 151/20 cannon]] (60 and 84&nbsp;kg/130 and 185&nbsp;lb respectively), 740 rounds of 12.7&nbsp;mm (.5&nbsp;in) ammunition (76&nbsp;kg/168&nbsp;lb), 500 rounds of 20&nbsp;mm ammunition (100&nbsp;kg/220&nbsp;lb), and other sundry items such as oil (33&nbsp;kg/73&nbsp;lb), oxygen cylinder (12&nbsp;kg/26&nbsp;lb) and radio equipment. Additionally, 100&nbsp;L (30&nbsp;US gal) fuel tanks or 160&nbsp;kg (350&nbsp;lb) of bombs could be carried on two underwing hardpoints.<ref name="Giorgio Massiniello"/> Due to a lack of passenger transport aircraft, modifications were made to a C.205 to enable it to carry eight passengers in the belly of the fuselage and, among others, three pilots of 51° Wing (including Adriano Visconti) made the journey from Sardinia to Italy after the Armistice in this manner.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

''Veltros'' originally had "tropical" pattern camouflage, with a sand brown base coat and irregular black-green lines all over their surface (referred to as "smoke rings"). Those in service with [[Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana]] were painted an overall dark green (nearly black), while others adopted a variation of the "tropical" pattern or carried a camouflage pattern based on the German "Splinter Pattern" consisting of RLM 74 and 75, Gey/Green over RLM 76 Blue.<ref name="finn">{{cite web |title=Macchi C.205V |url=http://www.finn.it/regia/immagini/macchi/profilo_mc205v.jpg |website=www.finn.it |access-date=3 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030416050751/http://www.finn.it/regia/immagini/macchi/profilo_mc205v.jpg |archive-date=16 April 2003}}</ref>

===Relative performance===
The following are relative performance and characteristics data for the three versions of the C.205 (or MC.205, as the machines designed by Castoldi were often called):<ref name="Lembo p. 5."/>

:{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 style="border-top:3px double #999; border-collapse:collapse; text-align:left; font-size:smaller;" summary="Comparative performance characteristics of the C.205V, N/1, and N/2.
|+ style="font-size:larger; text-align:left;" |
|- style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
! style="width:140px;"|
! style="width:10px;"|
!  style="text-align:left; width:115px;"| C.205V
!  style="text-align:left; width:110px;"| C.205N/1
!  style="text-align:left; width:90px;"| C.205N/2
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Minimum weight (kg)
|
| 2,581
| 2,695
| 2,759
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Maximum weight (kg)
|
| 3,408
| 3,621
| 3,794
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Payload (kg)
|
| 827
| 926
| 935
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Ceiling (m)
|
| 11,200
| 11,500
| 11,800
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Range (km)
|
| 950
| 1,020
| 950
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Maximum speed (km/h)
|
| 642/620 (at 7,500&nbsp;m) <sup>[1]</sup>
| 629 (at 6,500&nbsp;m)
| 628 (at 6,500&nbsp;m)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Time to 5,000&nbsp;m altitude
|
| 4 min 47 sec
| 5 min 46 sec
| 6 min 14 sec
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Time to 6,000&nbsp;m altitude
|
| 5 min 53 sec <sup>[2]</sup>
| 6 min 07 sec
| 7 min 38 sec
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Time to 7,000&nbsp;m altitude
|
| 7 min 06 sec <sup>[2]</sup>
| 7 min 45 sec
| 9 min 07 sec
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Time to 8,000&nbsp;m altitude
|
| 9 min 09 sec <sup>[2]</sup>
| 9 min 25 sec
| 10 min 47 sec
|}
<small>Notes:<br>
1. Series I/III<br>
2. Under ideal conditions</small>

Although these figures provide an indication of the relative performance of each variant, and showed that the ''Orione'', especially the N2, suffered as a result of the weight increase (particularly in climbs), they are not truly representative as they were obtained under different test conditions. As opposed to the two N versions, the ''Veltro'' was tested under ideal conditions, i.e. at light weight ({{convert|3,250|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and with full emergency power (2,750&nbsp;rpm). In a climb to {{convert|6,000|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a ''Veltro III'' series, fully equipped and using combat (not emergency) power at 2,600&nbsp;rpm needed seven minutes.<ref name="Lembo p. 5."/>