Breda
Breda-Pittoni BP.471
The Breda‑Pittoni BP.471 was an Italian twin‑engine transport aircraft developed in the late 1930s by the aeronautical division of the Breda industrial group in collaboration with engineer Luigi Pittoni. Intended to replace older biplane mail carriers, the BP.471 first flew on 12 April 1939 from the Breda plant in Sesto Calende. Its all‑metal, low‑wing monoplane design incorporated a retractable undercarriage, fully enclosed cockpit and a spacious cabin that could accommodate up to twelve passengers or a mixed load of cargo and troops. Power was supplied by two 750 hp Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial engines mounted on the wing roots, giving the aircraft a maximum speed of 340 km/h and a range of 1,500 km, impressive figures for a medium‑weight transport of its era. Although only a limited production run of fifteen units was completed before Italy’s entry into World War II halted further orders, the BP.471 saw service with the Regia Aeronautica on liaison, medical evacuation and supply missions in the North African and Balkan theatres. Its advanced aerodynamic layout and modular interior influenced post‑war Italian designs such as the Fiat G.12, marking the BP.471 as a transitional step between pre‑war biplanes and the modern transport aircraft that followed.
