Ambrosini SAI.10


The Ambrosini SAI.10 Grifone was a military trainer aircraft produced in small numbers for the Italian Regia Aeronautica early in World War II.

History

With the approach of war, the Ministero dell' Aeronautica began a programme to increase the number of pilots available, and ordered a prototype primary trainer from Ambrosini. This aircraft, a parasol monoplane of mixed construction, first flew on July 8, 1939, with Guiliano Ferrari at the controls. A production batch of 50 was ordered, but this was quickly reduced to just 10 planes, all of which were delivered in 1940.

Variants

Production aircraft differed by having a Fiat A.50 radial engine in place of the prototype's CNA D. Other engine fits that were tried included an example with a Siemens-Halske Sh 14, and one with an Alfa Romeo 110; this latter machine was designated SAI.11. Another experimental development that did not enter production was a float-equipped SAI.10 Gabbiano.

Operators