Breda-Zappata BZ.308

The Breda-Zappata B.Z.308 was an Italian four-engined airliner produced by Breda.

B.Z.308
Role Four-engined airliner
Manufacturer Breda
Designer Filippo Zappata
First flight 1948
Introduction 1949
Primary user Italian Air Force
Number built 1

Design and development

The B.Z.308 was a four-engined civil transport developed in the late 1940s for operation over both European and transatlantic routes. A large low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, it was powered by four Bristol Centaurus radial engines driving five-bladed propellers. It had a large tailplane with endplate fins and rudders, and had retractable landing gear. The fuselage, oval in cross-section, accommodated a flight crew of five and 55 passengers in two cabins; a high-density model was planned with seats for 80.

Construction began during 1946, under aircraft designer Filippo Zappata at Breda's Sesto San Giovanni works. The Allied Commission halted the work, which was not resumed until January 1947. Further delays in the delivery of Bristol Centaurus engines delayed the first flight, which was on 27 August 1948, piloted by Mario Stoppani. Although flight testing went well, the project was abandoned as a result of financial problems, anticipated competition from American airliners in the postwar market, and pressure (under the Marshall plan) to close down Breda's aeronautical section. Breda subsequently stopped producing aircraft entirely.

Operational history

The prototype B.Z.308 was acquired by the Italian Air Force in 1949 as a transport aircraft (MM61802). Despite orders in 1950 from India, Argentina and Persia, only the prototype was built, allegedly also due to pressure from the allies for Italy to refrain from competing in civilian aircraft manufacture after the war.

On 27 August 1948 the Bz 308 made its maiden flight in front of civil and military authorities, politicians and the Italian President. The prototype, which passed to the Italian Air Force in 1950, was used to fly between Rome and Mogadishu until 21 February 1954, when it was damaged beyond repair by a collision with a cement truck, and was abandoned in a field in Somalia before being broken up.[1]

It was also the first Italian transatlantic aircraft, and the first aircraft to fly into the new Malpensa airport in 1948.

The aircraft has a brief appearance in the 1953 movie Roman Holiday [2]

Operators
 Italy

Specifications (B.Z.308)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: five (two pilots, flight engineer, navigator and radio operator)
  • Capacity: 54 passengers
  • Length: 33.52 m (110 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 42.1 m (138 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 208 m2 (2,240 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 8.55:1
  • Empty weight: 27,500 kg (60,627 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 46,500 kg (102,515 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 18,000 L (4,800 US gal; 4,000 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Bristol Centaurus 568 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 1,900 kW (2,500 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 573 km/h (356 mph, 309 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 441 km/h (274 mph, 238 kn) at 4,300 m (14,100 ft)
  • Stall speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
  • Range: 7,700 km (4,800 mi, 4,200 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)

References
  1. "Breda-Zappata BZ.308" Aviation Safety
  2. "Roman Holiday" (around 1:12:50)
  3. Bridgman 1951, p. 153c.
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.

See also

Media related to Breda-Zappata BZ.308 at Wikimedia Commons

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