Fiat CR.20

The Fiat CR.20 was an Italian biplane fighter used during the 1920s and 1930s. Designed by Celestino Rosatelli, it represented an intermediate step from the early biplane CR.1 and the later, successful series CR.30-CR.32-CR.42.

For the new aircraft, Rosatelli used a traditional sesquiplane configuration. The engine was a water-cooled 306 kW Fiat A.20 V-12 enginer.

Major variants were the CR.20 Idro, a pontoon floatplane, and the CR.20 Asso, using a more powerful (336 kW/450 hp) Isotta-Fraschini engine. CR.20bis, produced from 1930, differed from the original version only for the addition of a more advanced landing gear.

At its peak in 1933, the CR.20 equipped 27 squadrons of the Italian Regia Aeronautica. The aircraft was used against Libyan rebels and in the early stages of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War in the attack role. The CR.20s remained in service with the Regia Aeronautica in the aerobatics and training until the 1930s. In 1933, Italy sold five CR.20s to Paraguay, which was fighting the Chaco War against Bolivia, these serving as Paraguay's only fighters through to the end of the war.

Variants

 * CR.20 Idro : Twin-float seaplane version.
 * CR.20bis : Single-seat fighter biplane, fitted with an advanced landing gear.
 * CR.20bisAQ : CR.20bis aircraft fitted with the Fiat A.20 A.Q. piston engine.
 * CR.20 Asso : Single-seat fighter biplane, powered by a 336 kW (450 hp) Isotta Fraschini Asso Caccia engine.
 * CR.20B : Two-seat trainer, communications aircraft. Built in small numbers.

Operators

 * Austrian Air Force (1927-1938)
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * Hungarian Air Force
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * Regia Aeronautica
 * [[Image:Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940.svg|21px]] Lithuania
 * Paraguayan Air Arm
 * Spanish Air Force
 * Soviet Air Force - Two aircraft, used for tests and trials.
 * Spanish Air Force
 * Soviet Air Force - Two aircraft, used for tests and trials.
 * Spanish Air Force
 * Soviet Air Force - Two aircraft, used for tests and trials.
 * Soviet Air Force - Two aircraft, used for tests and trials.