Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: Italy
Type: Biplane, Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Gio. Ansaldo & C.
Ansaldo A.1 Balilla Aircraft Overview
The Ansaldo A.1 Balilla was a World War I fighter aircraft that was designed and built by the Italian company Ansaldo. It was one of the first indigenous Italian fighter planes and was named after the Italian folk hero Giovanni Battista Perasso, who was known as “Balilla”.
The Balilla was a biplane with a wooden frame, fabric-covered wings, and a fixed, forward-firing machine gun. It was powered by a 120 horsepower Isotta Fraschini V.4B engine and had a maximum speed of around 200 km/h. The aircraft was also capable of carrying a small bomb load.
The Balilla first entered service with the Italian Air Force in 1918 and saw limited action in the final months of World War I. It proved to be a capable fighter, with good speed and maneuverability. However, production of the aircraft was limited and only a few dozen were built.
After the war, the Balilla remained in service with the Italian Air Force, and also saw use by other countries, including Spain and Japan. In Italy, it was used primarily as a training aircraft and was eventually phased out in the mid-1920s.
Despite its limited production and service, the Ansaldo A.1 Balilla is significant for being one of the first successful indigenous Italian fighter planes, and for helping to establish Italy’s aviation industry in the early 20th century.
Ansaldo A.1 Balilla Specifications
- Crew: one pilot
- Length: 6.84 m (22 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 7.68 m (25 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.53 m (8 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 21.2 m2 (228 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 640 kg (1,410 lb)
- Gross weight: 885 kg (1,950 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × SPA 6A piston engine , 164 kW (220 hp)
Ansaldo A.1 Balilla Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
- Range: 660 km (410 mi, 360 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
- Rate of climb: 2.7 m/s (520 ft/min)
Ansaldo A.1 Balilla Armament
- 2 × synchronised .303 Vickers machine gun.
