Nardi FN.315

Nardi FN.315
Role	Training monoplane
Manufacturer	Fratelli Nardi
First flight	1938
Primary users	Italian Air Force Swiss Air Force
Number built	31+
Developed from	Nardi FN.305

The Nardi FN.315 was an Italian training monoplane developed from the earlier Nardi FN.305 and produced by the Fratelli Nardi company.

Development

First flown on 10 July 1938 the FN.315 was an improved version of the FN.305. It had a revised tail unit, improved cockpit canopy and wing improvements. The FN.315 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of mixed construction. It had tailskid landing gear, with the main gear retracting inwards, and room for two crew in tandem in an enclosed cockpit. It was powered by a nose-mounted inline piston engine and various engines were evaluated during flight trials, originally with a 205hp (153kW) Alfa-Romeo 115 and also a 200hp (149kW) Argus As 10E and a 230hp (172kW) Hirth HM.508.

The aircraft went into production and six Hirth-powered aircraft were produced, including two for the Swiss Air Force. A further 25 Alfa-Romeo powered aircraft were built for the Italian Air Force and were used as intermediate trainers.

Operators

 Italy

• Regia Aeronautica

 Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force

Specifications (FN.315 Alfa Romeo)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Wingspan: 8.47 m (27 ft 9½ in)
• Gross weight: 1045 kg (2304 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo 115-1 inline piston engine, 153 kW (205 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 315 km/h (196 mph)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. pp. 2593–4.