The FC.20 was originally intended as a reconnaissance bomber but was developed instead as a ground attack aircraft. The first prototype first flew in 1941, piloted by Moroni. Four variants were structurally and aerodynamically similar apart from the front fuselage detail and engine installations.
The FC.20 had a twin tail, with elliptically shaped endplate vertical surfaces almost equally divided vertically between fin and rudder. These were mounted on a tapered tailplane with significant dihedral, carrying tabbed, tapered elevators. The rear fuselage extended beyond the empennage, providing a housing for the retractable talwheel.
In the unarmed reconnaissance bomber first prototype FC.20, the side-by-side cockpit was placed above the wing leading edge. A long glazed nose extended forwards from the cockpit to beyond the plane of the propellers.
The second, ground attack FC.20bis prototype differed chiefly from the first in having a shortened nose, a cockpit placed ahead of the wing leading edge and full armament, though there was also a slight increase in wing area. The solid nose contained a 37 mm Breda cannon, supplemented by a pair of 12.7 mm machine guns in the wing roots. An enclosed, rotating dorsal turret to the rear of the cockpit but still over the wing contained a similar machine gun. Two 160 kg bombs could be released from external wing mountings and small bombs from within the fuselage.
Two other variants also flew, both distinguished chiefly by their engines. The FC.20ter was a modification of the FC.20 with 745 kW (1,000 hp) Fiat A.80 R.C.41 radials. Unlike the FC.20, this aircraft had the dorsal turret of the FC.20bis and a nose mounted, long barrelled cannon.
The sole FC.20quater was one of the few production FC.20bis aircraft, re-engined with 935 kW (1,250 hp) Daimler-Benz DB 601 V-12, liquid cooled motors.
It was fitted with a 37 mm Mauser Ikaria cannon and a pair of 20 mm cannon replaced the wing root machine guns of the FC.20bis.
Tested in 1943, it flew higher and 80 kmh faster than the DC.20bis.
A few production FC.20bis were built and it is known that three served the 174a Sqadriglia Ricognizione Strategica in July 1943 but were not used operationally.
Italian military operations ceased with the armistice of September 1943.
Specifications (FC.20bis)
Data from Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945
Length: 12.18 m
Wingspan: 16.00 m
Height: 3.81 m
Wing area: 40.0 m2
Gross weight: 6,820 kg
Powerplant: 2 × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 twin row, 14-cylinder radial, 630 kW (840 hp) each
Maximum speed: 420 km/h
Cruise speed: 340 km/h
Range: 1,150 km
Service ceiling: 6,934 m
Armament
1 × nose mounted 37 mm Breda cannon
2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in wing roots
1 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun in dorsal turret.
Bombs:
2 × 160 kg bombs externally outboard of engines
126 × 2 kg anti-personnel bombs internally.
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