AS 202 Bravo

The SIAI‑Marchetti AS‑202 Bravo is an Italian two‑seat, low‑wing trainer that first flew in 1959 and entered production the following year. Designed by the famed SIAI‑Marchetti factory to replace the older SM.1019 series, the Bravo combined a simple, all‑metal airframe with a reliable 115 kW (155 hp) Lycoming O‑235‑C2B engine, delivering respectable performance for primary flight instruction and aerobatics. Its side‑by‑side seating, generous canopy and forgiving handling made it popular with flying clubs and military academies throughout Europe, especially in Italy, Spain and Portugal. The aircraft’s flat‑four engine, fixed tricycle landing gear and hydraulically operated flaps provided low operating costs and easy maintenance, while its structural strength allowed for loops, rolls and spins within approved limits. Over 500 units were built before production ceased in 1975, and many remain active in the civil register as sport and training aircraft. The AS‑202 Bravo is significant for demonstrating how post‑war Italian design could produce a cost‑effective, versatile trainer that helped modernize pilot training programmes across the continent. Today, several restored examples are displayed in museums, and the type continues to inspire modern light‑sport designs with its balanced performance and straightforward engineering.