IL-2 Sturmovik: Aeronautica Macchi MC.202 Series VIII

Fly the Italian Macchi 202, the best Italian fighter plane that saw action at the Eastern front of WWII!

The Macchi combines rather moderate size of German Messerschmitts with the robustness of a Focke-Wulf. It has a tough framework with all-metal construction throughout the airframe and two-spar wings, the only exception being the rudder. A unique feature of the Macchi is its peculiar wing design which is is asymmetrical. The left wing is 20 cm longer than the right one to counteract torque produced by the engine. The wings don’t have leading edge slats and the landing gear is generally similar to the FW-190 which is quite wide and serviceable. There’s a trim stabilizer for the elevators, but no trim tabs on any other flight surface.

The overall approach to the framework design is a bit surprising: on the one hand the aircraft is aerodynamically clean and well designed; on the other hand both of its radiator cowlings look ill-placed causing much drag.

The engine is an export version of the DB601A that was also used in earlier Bf-109 models. But unlike the Bf-109s in our game, this one doesn’t have a good automated constant-speed propeller mechanism. The Macchi’s propeller only has two basic positions: 2200 and 2400 rpm. All other modes are up to the pilot to set up and maintain by controlling the prop pitch manually. Water and oil radiator controls are manual as well. Keep in mind that Macchi’s throttle movement is also inverted – forward to slow down and back to accelerate.

• Armament: 2 x 12.7mm Breda SAFAT machine guns with 400 rounds and a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute.
• Length: 8.85 m (29.03 ft.)
• Wingspan: 10.58 m (34.7 ft.)
• Wing surface: 16.8 sq. m (55.11 sq. ft.)

Modifications

• Additional pilot protection: armored triplex windscreen (10 kg / 22 lbs. weight increase)
• 2 x additional Breda SAFAT 7.7mm wing-mounted machine guns with 500 rounds per gun. (25 - 49 kg / 55 – 108 lbs. weight increase)
• 2 x additional MG 151/20 20mm guns in wing-mounted gun pods with 135 rounds per gun (157 - 212 kg / 346 – 467 lbs. weight increase, 15 kph / 24 mph speed loss)
• 2 x 50-T General Purpose Bombs (130 kg / 287 lbs. weight increase with bomb racks, 14 kph / 9 mph speed loss, 7 kph / 4 mph speed loss after drop)
• 2 x 100-T General Purpose Bombs (220 kg / 485 lbs. weight increase with bomb racks, 20 kph / 12 mph speed loss, 7 kph / 4 mph speed loss after drop)

Skins

• Standard pattern with winter camo
• 2./JG 108, ('214' with Luftwaffe markings used in training unit)
• 73°Squadriglia, 9°Gruppo, 4°Stormo C.T., Tenente Giulio Reiner, Fuka, Egypt, July 1942 ('73-7' dark olive green with sand blotches and light grey bottom)
• 386a°Squadriglia, 21°Gruppo Autonomo C.T., Kantemirowka, USSR, October 1942 ('386-1' light brown with dark green patches and light grey undersides)
• 70°Squadriglia, 23°Gruppo, 3°Stormo C.T., Cerveteri, Italy, August 1943 ('2-70' light brown with intensive dark green patches and light grey undersides)
• 71°a Squadriglia, 17°Gruppo, 1°Stormo C.T., Udine-Campoformido, Italy, October 1941 ('71-2' dark olive green and light grey undersides)
• 369°a Squadriglia, 22°Gruppo, 53°Stormo C.T., Capodichino, Italy, Summer 1943 ('369-12' light brown with dark green rings and light grey undersides)
• 378°a Squadriglia, 155°Gruppo, 51°Stormo C.T., Gela, Italy, August 1943 ('378-4' dark green with yellow and brown patches and light grey undersides)
• Aeromacchi C.202 prototype first flown at Lonate Pozollo on August 10, 1940 by chief test pilot Guido Carestiato (metal with no paint with some parts painted with protective primer color)
• 2./Jagd Lehrer Überprüfungsgruppe, Konrad Augner ('13' light brown with dark green patches, light grey undersides and yellow markings)

Flight Parameters

Indicated Stall Speed in Flight Configuration: 151 - 166 kph (94 – 103 mph)
Indicated Stall Speed in Takeoff / Landing configuration: 139 -152 kph (86 – 94 mph)
Dive Speed Limit: 850 kph (528 mph)
Maximum Load Factor: 14.8 G
Stall Angle of Attack in Flight Configuration: 19.6 °
Stall Angle of Attack in Landing Configuration: 17.4 °

Ground Speed at Sea Level, Engine Mode - Combat: 500 kph (311 mph)
Maximum Ground Speed at 2000 m (6562 ft.), Engine Mode - Combat: 543 kph (337 mph)
Maximum Ground Speed at 5000 m (16404 ft.), Engine Mode - Combat: 604 kph (375 mph)

Service Ceiling: 11300 m (37073 ft.)
Climb Rate at Sea Level: 17.3 m/s (56 ft. p/s)
Climb Rate at 3000 m (9842 ft.): 15.1 m/s (50 ft. p/s)
Climb Rate at 6000 m (19685 ft.): 10.6 m/s (35 ft. p/s)

Maximum Performance Turn at Sea Level: 22.6 s, at 270 kph (168 mph) IAS.
Maximum Performance Turn at 3000 m (9842 ft.): 28.2 s, at 270 kph (168 mph) IAS.

Flight Endurance at 3000 (9842 ft.): 2.2 hrs. at 350 kph (217 mph) IAS.

Takeoff Speed: 160 - 190 kph (99 – 118 mph)
Glideslope Speed: 190 - 200 kph (118 – 124 mph)
Landing Speed: 140 - 150 kph (87 – 93 mph)
Landing Angle: 13.9 °

Note 1: Data provided is for international standard atmosphere (ISA).
Note 2: Flight performance ranges are given for possible aircraft weight ranges.
Note 3: Maximum speeds, climb rates and turn times are given for standard aircraft weight.
Note 4: Climb rates are given for Combat power, turn times are given for Boosted power.

Engine:
Model: RA.1000 (Italian built DB601A)
Maximum Power in Boosted Mode at Sea Level: 1175 HP
Maximum Power in Combat Mode at Sea Level: 1050 HP
Maximum Power in Combat Mode at 3700 m (12139 ft.): 1100 HP

Engine Limits:
Nominal (unlimited time): 2200 RPM, 1.23 ata
Combat Power (up to 5 minutes): 2400 RPM, 1.35 ata
Boosted Power (up to 1 minute): 2500 RPM, 1.45 ata

Water Rated Temperature in Engine Intake: 70 - 80 °C (158 – 176 °F)
Water Rated Temperature in Engine Output: 94 °C (201 °F)
Water Maximum Temperature in Engine Output: 100 °C (212 °F)
Oil Rated Temperature in Engine Intake: 60 - 75 °C (140 – 167 °F)
Oil Maximum Temperature in Engine Intake: 85 °C (185 °F)
Oil Rated Temperature in Engine Output: 90 - 100 °C (194 – 212 °F)
Oil Maximum Temperature in Engine Output: 110 °C (230 °F)

Supercharger Gear Shift Altitude: Fluid Coupling

Empty Weight: 2448 kg (5397 lbs.)
Minimum Weight (no ammo, 10% fuel): 2622 kg (5781 lbs.)
Standard Weight: 2967 kg (6541 lbs.)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 3197 kg (7048 lbs.)
Fuel Load: 307 kg / 430 l (677 lbs. / 114 gal.)
Maximum Combat Load: 749 kg (1651 lbs.)

Combat Debut: June 1942

Source: Steam Store Description