Fiat RS.14

Infobox Aircraft
name=RS.14


caption=
type=long-range maritime reconnaissance floatplane
manufacturer=Fiat
designer=Manlio Stiavelli
first flight=May 1939
introduced=May 1941
retired=
status=
primary user=Regia Aeronautica
more users=Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
produced=May 1941 - September 1943
number built=188 (includes 2 prototypes)
variants with their own articles=

The Fiat RS.14 was an Italian long-range maritime strategic reconnaissance floatplane.

Development

The RS.14 was designed by Manlio Stiavelli at the CMASA works at Marina di Pisa. The first of two prototypes flew in May 1939. The RS.14 was a four/five seat all-metal cantilever low/mid-wing monoplane powered by two wing-mounted 840 hp (626 kW) Fiat A.74 RC engines. It had a conventional cantilever tail unit with a single fin and rudder. Its undercarriage consisted of two large floats on struts. It had a glazed nose for an observer or bomb aimer. The pilot and copilot sat side-by-side with a wireless operator's compartment behind them. In the bombing role the RS.14 was fitted with a long ventral gondola to carry various combinations of anti-submarine bombs (up to 400 kg, 882 lb).

A prototype landplane version AS.14 was built and first flown on 11 August 1943. It was designed as a ground attack aircraft and intended to be armed with a 37-mm cannon and 12.7 (0.5 in) machine guns. It was not ordered and no others were built.

Operational history

The RS.14 went into service with the Italian Air Force with a number of maritime strategic reconnaissance squadrons at bases around the Italian coast and also in Sicily and Sardinia. They were used for convoy escort duties and anti-submarine patrols. After the 1943 Armistice a few survivors were operated by the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. At the end of the war the aircraft were used for liaison duties around the Mediterranean carrying up to four passengers.

Variants

;RS.14:Production floatplane with 840 hp (626 kW) Fiat A.74 RC engines, 188 built including two prototypes.;AS.14:Landplane version with retractable landing gear, one built.

Operators

;flag|Italy|1861-state
*"Regia Aeronautica"
*Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force

pecifications

aerospecs
ref=Donald, 1997, pg 413.
met or eng?=met

crew=3
capacity=
length m=14.1
length ft=46
length in=3.25
span m=19.54
span ft=64
span in=1.25
height m=5.63
height ft=18
height in=5.75
wing area sqm=50
wing area sqft=538.21
empty weight kg=5,470
empty weight lb=12,059
gross weight kg=8,470
gross weight lb=18,673

eng1 number=2
eng1 type=Fiat A.74 RC 38 14-cylinder radial piston
eng1 kw=626
eng1 hp=840

max speed kmh=390
max speed mph=242
cruise speed kmh=
cruise speed mph=
range km=2,500
range miles=1,553
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=6,300
ceiling ft=20,670
climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=

armament1=1 x 12.7-mm (0.5-in) machine-gun
armament2=2 x 7.7-mm (0.303-in) machine-guns
armament3=up to 400 kg (882 lb) of bombs

Notes

References

*
* Mondey, David (1984), "The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II", Chancellor Press, ISBN 1 85152 966 7
* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1812

ee also

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