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The Italian aircraft manufacturer Reggiane, owned by Caproni and situated in Reggio south-east of Milano,  provided the troubled Swedish Air Force with at least a number of fighter aircraft, when all other sources abroad were gone.

Reggiane’s first produced aircraft with aluminium skin was the Re 2000 Falco 1. Earlier aircraft were of wooden constuction. It was designed by the team Antonio Alessio and Robert Longhi, but it is obvious that the Seversky-Republic EP-1 (in Sweden J 9) generally was used as pattern. At the trials, the Falco behaved very well, but Regia Aeronautica did not trust the strength of the design, and placed no orders. Almost all of the 170 manufactured Re 2000 were sold abroad. Sweden and Hungary were the major purchasers.

After United States had stopped the deliveries of more advanced fighter aircraft, the Swedish Air Force bought sixty Re 2000. They were equipped with air-cooled radial engines type Piaggio P XI RC 40D, delivering 1020 hp. Unfortunately, the engines proved themselves rather unreliable. Otherwise, most pilots appreciated the aircraft, which performed well under harsh conditions and had good flying characteristics.

All sixty aircraft were used by the fighter wing F 10, during the WWII based at Bulltofta in Malmö. They were equipped with two 12,7 mm automatic guns made by Breda in Milano. The aircraft were used in the neutrality guard and had the important mission to intercept foreign bombers that violated Swedish airspace from the south. One J 20 was shot down while intercepting a German Dornier Do 24 near Sölvesborg in April 1945. 

The Re 2000 on the photos is displayed at Flygvapenmuseum (Swedish Air Force Museum) and is the only preserved aircraft of this type in the world. C/n 405, Sw AF/n 2340.

Length: 7,99 m. Span: 11,00 m. Height: 3,13 m. Maximum take-off weight: 3,050 kg. Max. speed: 500 km/h.
 

For the Model Builder

Italeri released an injection moulded plastic model kit of Reggiane Re 2000 in early 2009. It includes decals for Swedish ( J 20) and Italian markings. Scale 1:72. Click on thumbnail for larger image.

The Czech company Legato Plastic Models / AZ Models has an injection moulded plastic model kit of J 20 Reggiane Re 2000 Falco in scale 1:72. Catalouge # LPK7201. Click on thumbnail for larger image.

© Lars Henriksson

Updated 2010-07-24