Fiat BR.20

==Details==
The Fiat BR.20 Cicogna (Italian: "stork") was a low-wing twin-engine medium bomber that was developed and manufactured by Italian aircraft company Fiat. It holds the distinction of being the first all-metal Italian bomber to enter service;Bignozzi, Giorgio. Aerei d'Italia (dal 1923 al 1972). Edizioni "E.C.A. 2000" Milano. p. 10. at the time, it was regarded as one of the most modern medium bombers in the world.Gunston, Bill. Aerei della Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Milano, Alberto Peruzzo Editore, 1984. p. 221.
The BR.20 has its origins in a request by the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) issued during 1934 for a new medium bomber capable of high speeds, long range, and satisfactory payload, reliability, and flight characteristics compared to contemporaries. Among the companies that chose to respond was Fiat, which completed its design for the competition during 1935. On 10 February 1936, the first prototype (serial number M.M.274) conducted its maiden flight. Flight testing proceeded at a rapid pace; during September 1936, initial deliveries of the type commenced to the Regia Aeronautica.
During summer 1937, the BR.20 received its baptism of fire when a number were operated by the Aviazione Legionaria during the Spanish Civil War; the BR-20 came to form the backbone of Nationalist bombing operations, along with the German-built Heinkel He 111.Ethell, L. Jeffrey. Aircraft of World War II. Glasgow, HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. ISBN 0-00-470849-0. p. 66. It was also used in combat during the 1930s with relative success by the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War.Ethell 1995, p. 67. During 1939, a modified long-range BR.20 version (designated BR.20L) named Santo Francesco under the command of Maner Lualdi performed a highly publicised non-stop flight from Rome to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Upon the entry of Italy into the Second World War during mid-1940, the BR.20 served as the standard medium bomber of the Regia Aeronautica, however, by that point, the type was already approaching obsolescence. By 1942, the aircraft was mostly used for maritime patrol and operational training for bomber crews.Ethell 1995, p. 67. The BR.20 was produced from the mid-1930s until the end of the Second World War. More than 500 were produced before the end of the war.Matricardi, Paolo. Aerei Mililtari: Bombardieri e da Trasporto 2.(in Italian) Milano, Electa Mondadori, 2006. p. 257.
==Variants==
;BR.20
:Initial production model, 233 built.Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
;BR.20A
:De-militarised conversion of two BR.20s for air racing.
;BR.20L
:Long ranged civil version, one built.
;BR.20M
:Improved bomber version with lengthened nose, 264 produced.
;BR.20C
:Single aircraft converted by Agusta fitted with 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon in revised nose.
;BR.20bis
:Major re-design with more powerful engines (two Fiat A.82 RC.42 rated at 932 kW/1,250 hp each), increased dimensions and new, fully glazed nose.
==Operators==
*Republic of China
** A single captured BR.20 entered service with the Republic of China Air Force in 1939.Andersson, Lennart.A History of Chinese Aviation: Encyclopedia of Aircraft and Aviation in China until 1949. AHS of ROC: Taipei, Taiwan, 2008. ISBN 978-957-28533-3-7. p. 266.
*Kingdom of Italy
**Regia Aeronautica
**Aviazione Legionaria
**Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
*Italian Social Republic
**Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
*Empire of Japan
**Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
*Spanish State (1938)
**Ejército del Aire (EdA)
*Kingdom of Hungary (1920–46)
**Royal Hungarian Air Force
*Independent State of Croatia
**Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia
*Venezuela (1930)
**Venezuelan Air Force – A single BR.20 was sold to Venezuela.
==Sources==
Category:Italian
Category:Fiat Aviazione
Category:Medium bomber
Category:Multiple crew members
Category:Multi piston engine
Category:Between the wars
Category:World War 2