Project features

Contents

Note: features are not yet finalized and may change


References for historical accuracy

A goal of the project is to build a virtual representation of the G55 as much as possible historically accurate with respect to visual features and performances in the simulator. The starting point for accuracy are the sources. Here are the ones which were used.

  1. P. Vergnano, G. Alegi, "FIAT G55", in Ali d'Italia, No. 10, La Bancarella Aereonautica, 1998. This seems the most complete source from an historycal point of view. It also has detailed scale drawings and profiles (by A. Brioschi).
  2. N. Arena, "FIAT G55 Centauro - FIAT G59", Mucchi Editore, 1994. This is a good source about the development of the G55 and its later evolutions. It has also several data from different test evaluations. It has drawings of the later versions (by M. Ferri).
  3. M. Di Terlizzi, "FIAT G55 Centauro", IBN Editore, 1998. Another reliable source for historical and technical data, but more oriented to modellers. It has drawings and profiles (by M. Ferri).
  4. Air Enthusiast International, May 1974. This seems the most complete source for technical specifications for the G55 Serie I.
  5. O. Marchi, "Catalogo motori", Museo Storico AMI, Patron Editore, Bologna, 1980. This is used for the data about the RA 1050 engine.
  6. O. Marchi, V. Zardo, "Catalogo velivoli", Museo Storico AMI, Patron Editore, Bologna, 1980. This was used to cross-check data from other sources with the data about the MC205 that are in this book.
  7. "DB 605 A-B Baureihe 0 und 1 Motoren-Karte", D.(Luft) T.3605 A-B, 0 u. 1, September 1942. This DB605 handbook is used as an additional reference for the specifications of the original Daimler-Benz engine.
  8. "Bf109 G-2 Flight and Maintenance Manual", March 1945. This is a translation (by MiG) of an original manual for the Bf109G's in service with the Finnish Air Force; it is used as an additional reference for the specifications of the original Daimler-Benz engine. A digital copy is available at www.bf109.com.
  9. "Manuale del G55", CA703, printing draft, 1943. By way of G. Alegi, this original handbook is used as a source for technical specifications for the G55.
  10. "A report of the evaluation tests of the second prototype at Guidonia". By way of F. D'Amico. The data from this document are used as a source for technical specifications for the G55 Sottoserie 0.
  11. "1% Spreadsheet V 2.83.59", 2003. This is used to build the flight model. It was also used to calculate some missing data, as, for instance, the very empty weight. It is available at AvHistory.
  12. Aerei, April 1979. This article reports weights and performances of the G55. By way of F. D'Amico.
  13. Aerofan, ... . This article reports weights and performances of the G55A, the version produced after the War for exportation. By way of F. D'Amico.
  14. "Manuale di volo del G55A/B", incomplete copy. This was used as a source for few exterior and internal details of the 3d model. By way of F. D'Amico.
  15. "Italian Wings". Last but not least, this is a good internet link for many info about the Italian Aviation in WWII, maintained by Alexander Pramstrahler and Ferdinando D'Amico.

In addition to the literature, many people contributed personally with data, info and also personal effort in the project: Ferdinando D'Amico & Gabriele Valentini, Gregory Alegi (GAVS), Gregory Pierson (AvHistory, developer of the flight and damage model), Daniele Sabatini, Luca Festari, Fabio Aloisi, ...
Fruitful discussions (from which I both learned lot of things in general and specific questions about the G55 were fixed) took place on the forums at:


Models and skins

1. G55 Serie I - Sottoserie 0, Regia Aereonautica "353 12"

This historical skin depicts the MM 91059 number 12 of the 353th Squadriglia, 20th Gruppo, 51st Stormo, August 1943. The 353th was the first unit to be equipped with the G55's. The unit was initially based in Sardinia, then it was redeployed to Ciampino (near Rome).
Because of the fall of the Fascist regime on 25 July 1943, this aircraft has only the insignias of the Regia Aereonautica.
The RA 1050 engine of this aircraft has a max power of 1350 hp because the emergency settings were disabled due to detonation problems and piston failures. Also the original DB 605A engines suffered by this problems until late 1943, when they were solved by strenghtening some parts and by the adoption of new sparkplugs. The Fiat produced engines were fixed a little later (see also the data page).
This aircraft, as all the first delivered Sottoserie 0's, also suffers by a weak tail wheel leg. The problem was easy to fix and actually Fiat did it later, but, due to this problem, at the end of August 1943, all the 12 Sottoserie 0's delivered to the 353th were not operative. So, be gentle in your landings.
Available at AvHistory!


2. G55 Serie I - Sottoserie 0, Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana "1 Giallo"

This historical skin depicts the G55 MM 91058 of the 2nd Gruppo 2nd Squadriglia "Diavoli Rossi" (Red Devils), flown by Sgt. Pilota Rolando Ancillotti, April 1944. This squadron was based at Bresso (near Milan). The "1 giallo" is one of the most portrayed G55's, as it was used to take the pictures for a reportage on an aviation magazine.
This aircraft was not delivered to Regia Aeronautica but remained at Fiat/Aeritalia; after the Armistice the plants went under control of the German authorities and it was marked with Luftwaffe insignias. When MM91058 was delivered to the ANR new insignias were painted on.
This aircraft has a fixed tail wheel leg and a RA 1050 engine with the emergency settings enabled (1.42 ata, 2800 rpm, delivering 1475 hp at sea level). The "1 giallo" is a good candidate to have wep enabled, but - to be strictly accurate - there is no original source that explicitely confirms this hypothesis.
The official performances of the G55 that you find in many sources (as for instance [1] and [2]) were the ones recorded during the evaluation tests of the third prototype, in 1942. The third prototype was the first one to mount the RA 1050 engine, that at that time was limited to 1350 hp. Max performances at emergency settings are calculated by the 1% spreadsheet (see also the data page).
Available at AvHistory!


3. G55 Serie I in Luftwaffe markings

This historical skin depicts the first G55 Serie I completed under the German occupation. It has Luftwaffe insignias, but still lacks its serial number.
This aircraft was probably used for evaluation tests by Luftwaffe, including the ones about additional payloads, as few photos show. For this reason this aircraft has the ability to carry in underwing mountings 100 liters German drop tanks. Apart of these evaluation tests, at the moment, there is no source that reports about operational use of such items.
Available at AvHistory!


4. G55 Serie I, Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana "5 Giallo"

This historical skin depicts the G55 MM 91097 of the Squadriglia Complementare d'Allarme "Montefusco-Bonet", June 1944. Capt. Giovanni Bonet was the commander of the "Montefusco", after his death in combat, the squadron adopted his signature as insignia. This squadron was based at Venaria Reale (near Turin). This skins also depicts the rebuilt G55 which is on display at the Italia Air Force Museum of Vigna di Valle (near Rome).
Available at AvHistory!


5. G55 Serie I, Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana "6 nero"

This historical skin depicts a G55 of the 2nd Gruppo Caccia 1st Squadriglia "Gigi tre osei" (Luis three birds). The aircraft has individual number "6 nero", but its serial number was hidden by the application of the German style camo. This squadron was based at Cascina Vaga (near Pavia), in May-June 1944.
The 1st Squadriglia was the first to begin the transition to Bf 109G. By the end of June all the G55's of the 1st were delivered to other squadrons to reintegrate the losses.
All original images of "6 nero" are in black and white, the camo was applied on the field and we cannot be sure of the colours that were used. The proposed skin refers to the available photos and to the profiles of A. Brioschi.
Available at AvHistory!


6. G56 Prototype
This will be an historical skin depicting the G56 prototype MM 536 that had its first flight on 28 March 1944.

7. G55 Serie I - Sottoserie 0, Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana
This will be a multiplayer skin with the usual "verde oliva scuro / grigio mimetico" camo. Individual markings feature a coloured stripe on the upper engine cowling, number and nose art.

8. G55 Serie I, Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana
This will be a multiplayer skin with "German Style" camo. Individual markings feature a coloured lower engine cowling, number and nose art.

9. G56 "What-if" ANR
This will be a multiplayer skin with ANR insignias.

10. G56 "What-if" Luftwaffe
This will be a multiplayer skin with a "German Style" camo and German insignias as there were plans to mass produce the G56 also in Germany.

Other skins may come, by me or by other painters.

Accurate 3D model

The 3D model is reproduced from the drawings available on [1]. While these are considered the best ones available, they miss few noticeable details. For instance, thanks to a discussion on the "It's all about warfare - WWII - Air War" forum, it was discovered that the Sottoserie 0 has the belly characterized by a centered bulge and two chutes, the latters were to avoid damage to the coolant radiator by the shells ejected by the undermounted Breda's.

Ferdinando D'Amico & Gabriele Valentini provided lot of rare photos to rebuild these details trying to match attempted 3D models with the images. Work is currently ongoing to improve the model as new images and documentation are discovered. At the moment research includes the centered bulge and the two chutes of the Sottoserie 0 and the different vertical tails of the two models.


Custom animations

In addition to all the standard animations, the G55 models feature:

  • dynamic eyepoint;
  • open/close coolant radiator flap;
  • open/close canopy windows (bomb bay key); according with the canopy status, the pilot wears or not the oxygen mask;

  • moving damaged ailerons; ailerons show the damage received and move with less angle;

Custom payloads

Drop tanks were tested on the G55 Serie I. At the moment only one photo was found about this issue; it shows a 100 lt German tank under the wing of a G55. Another image of this type of German thank is from the White One Restoration web page. There are no references about operative use by the ANR of these tanks, so they are available only on model 3.

Research about the use of bombs is ongoing.


Italian pilot

The fictional character Angelo Toscanini was developed from the Walker stock model to fit well the cockpit of the G55. Characters differ a little, particularly regarding the head position. Characters not based on the Walker model don't wear perfectly the G55 oxygen mask (but you must be very close to notice).
The new pilot is part of the Nationality Expansion Kit (aka NEK) by Rick Rutherford,
available at Netwings and Sim Outhouse!


Double gunsight

The G55 "San Giorgio" reflecting gunsight was not centered, it was a bit on the right side of the panel. As an additional gunsight two needles were placed on the top of the forward fuselage, along the aircraft centerline. In this CFS3 implementation of the G55 both systems are usable: in the default view the two needles are perfectly aimed with the convergency point of the guns, but you can also align your eyes with the reflecting gunsight and use it for precision fire. To move your head and perfectly align the reticle of the San Giorgio gunsight just hit twice "Ctrl-Shift-Enter" (referring to the standard CFS3 keyboard assignments).

Italian gauges

A first version of a complete set of Italian gauges is available in the releases of the Sottoserie0 (Model 1 and Model 2), but work is on going ...


Special effects

Wingtip trails, exhaust flames, custom engine start smoke, but still working on them ...