Fiat B.R.

The Fiat B.R. was a pioneering biplane developed by Fiat Aviazione in the early 1920s, emerging from the successful lineage of World‑I I reconnaissance aircraft. First flown in 1921, the B.R. (short for “Bicicletta di Ricognizione”) was designed to meet the Regia Aeronautica’s demand for a fast, maneuverable platform capable of both observation and light attack duties. Powered by a 300 hp V‑12 Fiat A.12 engine, the aircraft featured a wooden frame with fabric covering, staggered wings of equal span, and a fixed tailskid undercarriage. Its open cockpit accommodated a pilot and an observer/gunner, who operated a flexible 7.7 mm Lewis gun mounted on a swivel ring. The B.R.’s streamlined fuselage and efficient wing design yielded a top speed of roughly 200 km/h and a service ceiling near 6 000 m, impressive metrics for its era. Though only a limited production run of about 30 units was completed, the B.R. proved instrumental in refining Italy’s post‑war aeronautical engineering, influencing later Fiat models such as the CR.20 fighter‑trainer. Its operational service, primarily in North Africa and the Balkans, highlighted the transition from wartime reconnaissance to versatile, multi‑role aircraft that shaped interwar aviation doctrine.

Fiat Aviazione

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