The unsatisfactory characteristics of the Breda 27 prototypes
led, in late 1933, to the complete redesign of the
fighter by engineers Parano and Panzeri, and the construction
of a further prototype. Unlike preceding Breda
27s, the new prototype was entirely of metal construction,
the wing being of steel and duralumin with duralumin
skinning, and the corrugated skinning of the
fuselage gave place to a smooth duralumin covering.
Criticism of forward view for take-off and landing was
answered by moving the cockpit bodily forward and
raising it by deepening the fuselage. The 540hp Alfa
Romeo-built Mercury IVA engine was retained, but the
two-bladed wooden propeller gave place to a threebladed
metal propeller. The new prototype was flown
in June 1934, and in September of that year it was ferried
from Milan to Oslo (for demonstration to the Norwegian air arm) at an average speed of 283km/h, being exhibited at the Salon de l'Aeronautique
in Paris in November. The revised Breda 27,
which now bore a marked resemblance to the Boeing
P-26, was ordered by the Chinese Central Government.
Similar to the redesigned third prototype, the series
version was designated Breda 27 Metallico (signifying
that it was of all-metal construction) and 18 were
ordered by China. In the event only 11 were delivered
(in 1936), these being assigned to the 29th Pursuit Sqn
at Canton. An armament of two 12.7mm machine guns
was carried. The prototype was obtained by the Regia
Aeronautica, serving with the 86a Squadriglia, 5°
Stormo Assalto, until December 1937.
W.Green, D.Swanborough "The Complete Book of Fighters", 2000
