SAIMAN 200

The SAIMAN 200 was a 1930s Italian two-seat primary trainer designed and built by the Società Industrie Meccaniche Aeronautiche Navali (SAIMAN).

SAIMAN 200
Role Two-seat primary trainer
Manufacturer Società Industrie Meccaniche Aeronautiche Navali
Designer Mario Bottini
First flight 1938
Introduction 1940
Retired 1947
Primary user Italian Air Force
Number built 140 [1]

Development

Designed as a basic trainer, the first SAIMAN 200 prototype first flew at the end of 1938. It was a wooden conventional biplane with wide track tailwheel landing gear, powered by a nose-mounted 185 hp (138 kW) Alfa-Romeo 115 engine. Two prototypes with 120 hp (74 kW) Alfa-Romeo 110 engines were also built, designated the SAIMAN 205. Two aircraft were sold to the Italian airline Ala Littoria which were followed by three production batches for the Regia Aeronautica. Caproni-Vizzola built 115 aircraft and SAIMAN built 25. Early accidents in use resulted in structural strengthening and modification to the production aircraft.

Operational history

The SAIMAN 200 was used by Regia Aeronautica primary training schools and some were also used for liaison duties. After the 1943 armistice the surviving aircraft were also used by the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, the Germans and the Allies.

Variants
SAIMAN 200
Production aircraft with an Alfa Romeo 115 engine, 128 built.
SAIMAN 205
Powered by an Alfa Romeo 110 engine, only two prototypes.

Operators
 Croatia
 Kingdom of Italy
 Italy

Specifications

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Length: 7.47 m (24 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.78 m (28 ft 9.75 in)
  • Height: 2.50 m (8 ft 2.5 in)
  • Wing area: 22 m2 (236.81 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 761 kg (1,678 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,055 kg (2,326 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo 115 inline piston engine , 138 kW (185 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph, 119 kn)
  • Range: 475 km (295 mi, 256 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,685 ft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  2. Orbis 1985, p 2838
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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