Ambrosini SAI.10

The Ambrosini SAI.10 Grifone ("Griffon") was a military trainer aircraft produced in small numbers for the Italian Regia Aeronautica early in World War II.

SAI.10 Grifone
SAI.10 Grifone
General information
Type	Military trainer
Manufacturer	Ambrosini
Designer	Camillo Silvia
Primary user	Regia Aeronautica
Number built	10
History
First flight	1939

History

With the approach of war, the Ministero dell' Aeronautica began a programme to increase the number of pilots available, and ordered a prototype primary trainer from Ambrosini. This aircraft, a parasol monoplane of mixed construction, first flew on July 8, 1939, with Guiliano Ferrari at the controls. A production batch of 50 was ordered, but this was quickly reduced to just 10 planes, all of which were delivered in 1940.

Variants

Production aircraft differed by having a Fiat A.50 radial engine in place of the prototype's CNA D. Other engine fits that were tried included an example with a Siemens-Halske Sh 14, and one with an Alfa Romeo 110; this latter machine was designated SAI.11. Another experimental development that did not enter production was a float-equipped SAI.10 Gabbiano ("Seagull").

Operators

Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Aeronautica

Specifications

SAI.10 Gabbiano floatplane

Data from Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930–1945

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and instructor
• Length: 6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 10.30 m (33 ft 9.5 in)
• Height: 2.10 m (6 ft 10.75 in)
• Wing area: 14.3 m² (154 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 400 kg (880 lb)
• Gross weight: 615 kg (1,353 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Fiat A.50 radial , 63 kW (85 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 187 km/h (116 mph, 101 kn)
• Cruise speed: 161 km/h (100 mph, 87 kn)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• Thompson, Jonathan W. (1963). Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930–1945. Aero Publishers.