Editing Macchi C.200 Saetta (section)

===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>