The Ambrosini SAI.10 ''Grifone'' ("Griffon") was a military trainer aircraft produced in small numbers for the Italian

Regia Aeronautica The Royal Italian Air Force (''Regia Aeronautica Italiana'') (RAI) was the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Regio Esercito, Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was ...

early in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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 A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing config ...

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.Taylor 1989, p. 57

Variants

Production aircraft differed by having a Fiat A.50

radial engine The radial engine is a reciprocating engine, reciprocating type internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinder (engine), cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. ...

in place of the prototype's CNA D. Other engine fits that were tried included an example with a

Siemens-Halske Sh 14 The Siemens-Halske Sh 14 was a seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine for aircraft produced in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. First run in 1928, it was rated at 93 kW (125 hp). It was briefly distributed in the United States by Ryan A ...

, and one with an

Alfa Romeo 110 The Alfa Romeo 110 was an Italian four cylinder air-cooled inverted inline engine for aircraft use, mainly for trainers and light aircraft. The Alfa Romeo 110 was based on the de Havilland Gipsy Major, with approximately 500 units produced. Deriv ...

; this latter machine was designated SAI.11. Another experimental development that did not enter production was a float-equipped SAI.10 Gabbiano ("Seagull").

Operators

; *''

Specifications

References

* * {{Portal bar, Italy, Companies, Aviation SAI Ambrosini aircraft Parasol-wing aircraft 1930s Italian military trainer aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1939