А.Шепс Самолеты Первой мировой войны. Страны Антанты

Помилио PE 1917 г.

   Построив в марте 1917 года опытный разведчик PO с двигателем "Фиат" A-12 мощностью 300 л. с., фирма получила двухместную машину с характеристиками, близкими к данным истребителя. Машина была быстро доведена до серийного производства, претерпев ряд модернизаций и улучшений эксплуатационных характеристик. Конструкторы "Помилио" максимально использовали опыт других фирм по созданию двухместных разведчиков и легких бомбардировщиков.
Это был двухстоечный биплан цельнодеревянной конструкции с несущей фанерной обшивкой. Капоты двигателей изготавливались из алюминиевых листов. В носовой части фюзеляжа устанавливался 6-цилиндровый, рядный, жидкостного охлаждения "Фиат" A-12 с лобовым сотовым радиатором. Топливный бак сбрасываемый. Кабина пилота располагалась за задней кромкой крыла, а за ней - кабина стрелка-наблюдателя с турельной установкой двух пулеметов "Ривелли" или "Льюис". Крыло двухлонжеронное, имело деревянную конструкцию и полотняную обшивку. Элероны были только на верхнем крыле. Оперение обычного типа. Шасси со сплошной осью на V-образных стойках из профилированных труб. Всего было построено 1616 машин этого типа, состоявших на вооружении "Корпо Аэронаутиче Милитаре" до середины 1920-х годов. Машина обладала хорошими летными данными и использовалась в завершающий период войны. Одновременно с "Помилио", самолеты подобного класса выпускали и другие итальянские фирмы. Например, фирма "Сосьета Итальяна д'Авиационе Торино" выпустила аналогичный самолет S.I.A.7B, а фирма "Сосьета Аэронаутика Мекканика Ломбарда" - SAML.S1 и SAML. S2 с тем же двигателем.

J.Davilla Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 75)

Pomilio PC

  The Society anonima per costruzioni aeronautiche Ing. O. Pomilio & C was officially incorporated on 19 January 1916. The identity of the PA and PB is unknown; these designations may have been assigned to Pomilio’s earlier aircraft (S.P. 1, 2, 3, and 4). However, since Pomilio’s first tractor design was designated PC because it stood for Pomilio Caccia 1 = Pomilio Fighter Number 1, it seems unlikely that the PA or PB designations refer to the same design. The PC turned out to be inadequate for use as a fighter, and the firm likely chose to designate the follow on designs as PD and PE simply to show that they were all part of the same family.

Technical

  The PC was a tractor biplane with equal span wings. The lower wing had a slight sweepback to improve transverse stability. The ailerons were only on the upper wing and made the aircraft very sensitive to control inputs. The two spar wing had a concave curvature.
  The plywood fuselage had aluminum panels over the engine cowling. It was built around four spruce and ash longerons.
  The rudder had bungee cords attached to keep the aircraft from turning to the left.
  The engine was a 250-hp Fiat A.12. Engine cooling was by two inverted “V” shaped radiators located ahead of the cockpit of the pilot. In some case only a single radiator was fitted.
  The oil tank was under the engine and the fuel tank was located at the center of gravity to keep the aircraft stable as the fuel was emptied.
  There was a forward firing 6.5-mm Fiat machine gun located on the top wing; the gunner had another Fiat machine gun located on a Eteve mount.
  Three bombs carried externally on the fuselage side.

Testing

  The first flight was effected by Attilio Baldioli in September 1916. Instability problems were noted, and as a result of which the firm increased the wing surface area.
  The PCs had higher speed and improved climb rate then contemporary Italian two-seater pushers, but the PCs also were revealed to have design deficiencies which resulted in numerous accidents in service. They were difficult to fly and unforgiving of pilot errors. Some of these difficulties were the sensitive controls which, while making the PC maneuverable, also made it difficult to fly. Carelessness on the part of the pilot could (and at times did) result in loss of control of the aircraft.

Production

  The first production aircraft were completed in March 1917. While the initial order was for 670 aircraft, Alegi lists production as being only approximately 70 machines.

Operational Service

  The PCs were employed initially as reconnaissance aircraft, not fighters.
  It appears that only two units (131a and 132a) used the Pomilio PCs in any numbers. The first examples entered service on 20 July 1917. They were assigned to I and II Gruppi, at Chiasiellis and Campoformido. Equipped with two Fiat machine guns, unlike the S.P. and M.F.11 pushers, the PC was in a much better position to survive enemy attacks, particularly from the rear. Their maneuverability would also increase the crew’s chance of surviving in a dogfight.
  Serious problems appeared almost a soon as the type entered service. The instability noted in testing had not been completely corrected, and the pilots began to have control problems occasionally leading to crashes.
  131a used Pomilios 3771, 3772, 3782, 3784, 3786, 3810, 3879. On 2 August 1917, tenente Scarpa was killed in an accident. Initially, observers were removed from operational flights (which required ballast to be carried to prevent instability), but on the 4th all Pomilio operations were brought to a halt for three days.
  There were manufacturing issues also. Tenant Luigi Scarpa of 132a was killed when his seat and Eteve mount detached in flight. This resulted in a suspension of flights carrying an observer until the problem could be corrected.
  In outlining the aviation program for the fourth quarter of 1917, Major General Maggiorotti, head of the Aeronautical Services Office of the Supreme Command stated:
  It (the PC) is generally considered a good type for strategic reconnaissance and the commands that employ it are very happy to receive this type. Some inconveniences occurred recently with aircraft that, for no apparent reason, significantly changed their flying qualities. It has been evidently demonstrated that this depended on incorrect adjustment, which was easily remedied by the intervention of the squadriglia’s fitters. This type of aircraft has recently been significantly improved and since, it appears to this Office that a significant number of aircraft of the most recent type have already been tested and delivered (PD and PE), I request that the new squadrons be formed entirely of the most recent type, serving the old type to the needs of the schools and subject to maintaining the efficiency of the squadrons already at the front. Although it may be questionable whether it is advisable to use a model that had proved not easy to fly for training tasks, these words reveal the fact that in just two months of operational use the Pomilio had managed to establish itself and be appreciated in the specific role assigned to it.
  Source: Di Martino pages 129-130
  This somewhat sanguine analysis overlooked the in the inherent design flaws that resulted in the Pomilio PC being unstable. However, new types were needed at the front so these drawbacks were considered to be acceptable risks. The solution of the instability problems was by not means perfected in the following models D and E, but they were improved.
  Unfortunately, the Fiat-Revelli, powered by 50 or 100-shot magazines had a lower fire capacity than weapons used by KuK fighters that carried 250 rounds.
  The first squadrons to receive PC were 131a and 132a Squadriglias where the PC’s inherent instability resulted in a number of accidents. On 22 May, 1917, using a modified PC, tenente Mario de Bernardi completed a postal run from Torino to Rome, transporting over 200 kgs of mail and newspapers, with a flight lasting 4 hours and 11 minutes, at a cruising speed of 180 km/h. However, on landing the aircraft was struck by a crosswind and crashed.
  Given the problems discovered with the PC in operational service, Pomilio had no choice but to redesign the aircraft.
  The PCs were quickly withdrawn from service. There is, fortunately, no evidence that they were ever used as trainers as novice pilots would have found the type difficult, if not dangerous, to fly.

Units

  131 Squadriglia - This was the first unit to receive the new Pomilio PC fighter. It was formed at Torino on 20 March, 1917 at the Centro Formazione Squadriglie at Arcade.
  The unit was active in bombing missions and participated in attacks on Austro-Hungarian flying boats. It then was sent to Lavariano at Chiasiellis assigned to I Gruppo in the 3a Armata sector. On October 1, 1917 the unit moved to Lavariano, still with I Gruppo. By this time the PCs had been replaced by PDs and, later PEs.

  132a Squadriglia - This unit was the only other Squadriglia to equip with PCs. It was formed in July 1917 at the Centro Formazione Squadriglie at Padova. 121a was assigned to II Gruppo in the 3a Armata sector. On September 2,1917 the unit moved to X Gruppo at Campoformido, and back to II Gruppo on October 25. Two days later it moved back to Aviano, the 3 days later to Casoni. By November PEs began to replace the PCs in service.


Pomilio PC Two-Seat Reconnaissance Aircraft with One 250-hp FIAT A.12 Engine
  Wingspan 11,64 m.; length 9,87 m.; height, 3,35 m.; wing area 46 sq m
  Empty weight 1.000 kg.; loaded weight 1,400 kg; payload 400 kg
  Maximum speed 165 km/h.; endurance 3/4 h.
  Armament wing mounted 6.5-mm FIAT machine gun (on some aircraft) and a machine gun on an Eteve mount fired by the observer.
  Approximately 70 built



Pomilio PD & PE

  The Pomilio PC had revealed significant deficiencies in its brief service with 131a and 132a Squadriglias. There were manufacturing deficiencies and design flaws that resulted in a least one flight ban. Nevertheless, the performance was superior to the SAMLs in service and it was no longer vulnerable to rear attacks thanks to the tractor layout which allowed a rear gun to be fitted. The basic design was useful, providing the aircraft’s problems could be corrected. The PD, and more importantly the PE, were intended to replaced their troubled ancestor. The intention was to both eliminate the problems the PC had encountered, while also improving on its performance.
  It was planned that each armata would have a Pomilio PE squadriglia assigned for tactical reconnaissance and artillery co-operation (plus an SVA sezione for strategic reconnaissance). The army reconnaissance squadriglias would each comprise three seziones of four PDs or PEs each. This would permit the seziones to be distributed to the various corpo d’armata on an as needed basis. Eventually there were to have been 12 PD/PE squadriglias assigned at the armata level, versus 24 corpo d’armata squadriglias with SIA 7s.
  However, the PEs would prove to be of even more importance to the Aviazione then the relatively modest plans above would have suggested. They would be called upon to replace more than the obsolete S.P.3s, and obsolescent SAMLs. With the failure of the SIA 7b and delayed production of the SVAs, the PE would become the backbone of the Italian aerial reconnaissance units.
  But first of all, the PCs flaws had to be addressed. The main problem was the lateral instability which on the PC had been “fixed” by attaching a bungee chord to the rudder to prevent it from swiveling. To address this issue, the PD and PE were fitted with an enlarged fixed fin ahead of the rudder and a very large ventral fin which encased the tail skid.
  Another complaint concerning the PC was the limited forward vision of the pilot due to the large radiators mounted in front of the pilot on the cabane struts. On the PD there was a single radiator above the engine. Unfortunately, this radiator was also located in front of the pilot and this, plus the prominent cylinder heads, still severely restricted the pilot’s field of vision. In the PE the radiator was moved and the cylinder arrangement modified; these changes markedly increased the pilot’s forward view.
  Another change on the PD was that the fuel and auxiliary tank were mounted under the upper wing. The tank would be relocated on the PE, also to improve the view ahead.


Production

  According to Camurati, the number of PDs and PEs produced was:
   1917: 463
   1918: 1,073

  In the summer of 1918, half of the reconnaissance squadrons were equipped with Pomilio airplanes.


Variants

  1. One PE was fitted with a 300-hp Lancoa engine. This was not intended to be an upgrade for the PE, but instead was to serve as a testbed for in flight evaluation.
  2. An armored ground attack PE was proposed, but it is uncertain if it was ever built.
  3. Ansaldo A.3 was an upgraded PE with revised tail surfaces built after Ansaldo took over Pomilio’s assets. For details see entry under Ansaldo.

Operational Service

  The conversion of the reconnaissance squadriglias to the PD began in the late summer of 1917. These units would be receiving a more modern type than their SAMLs and S.P.3s. However, those two types were docile aircraft, relatively easy to fly. The SIA 7b had proved to be more difficult to master as, aside from its myriad flaws, it was more maneuverable (hence less stable) and required more concentration to fly. It also had a higher performance which took time for the crews to learn to exploit and which also led to landing accidents due to its higher speed. After the SIA 7b experience, it might be expected that the conversion to the PD would prove a more pleasant experience. It was not; the crews were unhappy with the limited forward vision, engine problems, and poor construction. These problems can be broken down as follows:

  1. Engine breakdowns - In August sergente Albertone of 136a suffered two engine failures which resulted in the crash of 13681 (1 August) and 13714 (5 August). On the second crash he was severely injured. On 26 August, a Fiat technical team arrived and disassembled the carburetors of the Fiat A12 engines. It is unclear to what degree this addressed the problem as the squadriglias continued to complain of frequent engine failures, sometimes resulting in the loss of the aircraft.
  136a used SAMLs until they could be assured of the Pomilio’s safety. They did not resume PE operations until 5 September. By the end of the war, the unit lost five planes in combat and 23 in forced landings due to engine breakdowns.
  In 28a Squadriglia, engine failures and propeller problems would result in crash or emergency landings limiting the number of aircraft available for operations.
  The problem was traced to faulty engine settings and mismatched propellers; according to Alegi, these problems could be corrected in the field by mechanics from Fiat.

  2. Wing failures. The PDs and PEs had structural failures of their wings in flight, sometimes with the resultant loss of aircraft and crew. On November 27, Pomilio 6900 of 139a Squadriglia was lost when a wing detached during a test flight, killing caporale Mautino.
  A 133a Pomilio was subsequently found to have a cracked wing spar.
  This problem was addressed by required inspection of the attachment points of the wings by both the squadriglia mechanics, as well as Pomilio representatives at the airfield or repair centers. Only after these inspections were completed could the aircraft be returned to service.
  Inspections in the field revealed numerous incidents of poor manufacturing techniques and design flaws. These problems could be exacerbated when the field mechanics adjusted the rigging. According to Alegi, the Pomilio firm was ordered to fix the attachment points to the main wing spar box on all the Pomilios then in service.
  These problems continued throughout the war. For example, on December 10, 1918 134a Squadriglia was in Verona with Pomilios 3859, 3891, 3895, 3899, 4015, and 6867; all six were not operational as they needed repair to the wing mountings which had caused numerous breakdowns.

  3. Instability - There were widespread centering problems which before being at least partially resolved had in turn caused several serious accidents. Unit records note that the aircraft were seen to flip over on their back with complete loss of control, without any obvious explanation. On the 20th sergente Carnio and Adorni of 136a were injured when their PE 7925 had a wing slip on their return to base.

  These issues led to a widespread distrust of the machine. In one squadriglia the PDs and PEs had to be withdrawn due to the open resistance to them by the pilots.
  Despite these problems, which were never fully solved, by late August the squadriglias using PD/PEs had completely converted to the type. Part of the delay was due to the fact that many Pomilios lacked the installations required by the artillery service and that these had to be fitted at the squadriglias as the aircraft were delivered. There were also delays in getting PEs due to the need to retrofit the new wing spar box attachment points. This was a time consuming process which required mechanics to remove the wing covering and repair the joints.
  28a Squadriglia provides an example of the conversion process from SIA 7bs to Pomilios. The transition began 1 July when the last SIA was discharged. There were no further flights until 9 July, when the unit received two Pomilios (one with dual controls, usually these were converted PDs) for training. Pilot training had been completed by 25 July, when combat sorties could begin. At the end of August only six Pomilios had been supplied; there were only three qualified pilots and six observers.
  Unfortunately, having a handful of trained pilots and operational planes did not mean that full operations could now begin. Engine failures and propeller problems would result in crash or emergency landings which reduced the supply of aircraft.
  As production switched to the improved PE, the PDs were converted to dual-control trainers, designated d.c. or doppio comando (dual control). Later it was decided to covert PEs to trainers. Alegi reports that 196 PD and PE trainers were built, which was 14% of the entire production run.
  The army squadriglias using Pomilio PEs found that, despite the rear gunner, they still required fighter escort. In time they ended up being increasingly used as corpi d’armata squadriglias; this influx of relatively new aircraft permitted the corpi to have sufficient aerial coverage.
  Due to a lack of observers that were trained in artillery spotting, the PEs use in the artillery co-operation role was limited.
  The PEs did have good characteristics which became more evident as the crews learned to adapt to the type’s shortcomings. For example, the Pomilios of 131a were able to operate without escort and engaged in long-range reconnaissance over occupied territories during which they dropped propaganda leaflets. Their speed was still considered sufficient protection, even if, on 25 March, 1918 the plane piloted by Sergeant Lorenzo Baudino with Lieutenant Orazio Brizio Soletti as an observer was shot down near Oderzo during one of these missions.
  The commander of I Gruppo, capitano Sella (as quoted in Gentilli and Varriale’s book) had this to say about the Pomilios: “The P.E. never gave rise to inconvenience and aroused confidence in pilots and observers. The construction of this device from the past year in which it presented defects for which often various parts had to be changed, (were) improved so much that it no longer gave rise to any complaints.”


Pomilio PD Two-Seat Reconnaissance Aircraft with One 250-hp FIAT A.12 Engine
  Wingspan, 11.64 m; length, 8.94 m; height, 3.35 m; wing area, 46 square meters.
  Empty weight 1,177 kg; loaded weight 1,577 kg; payload, 400 kg
  Maximum speed, 185 km / h.; climb to 1,000 m. in 5 minutes 30 seconds; at 2,000 m. in 12 minutes 45 seconds; 3,000 m. in 22 minutes; 4,000 m. in 37 minutes; range, 5,000 m; endurance three to four hours
  Two 6.5-mm FIAT machine guns, one fixed and forced by the pilot, the other on a ring mount fired by the observer; three bombs carried externally


Pomilio PE Two-Seat Reconnaissance Aircraft with One 250-hp FIAT A.12 Engine
  Wingspan, 11.28 m; length, 8.95 m; height, 3.35 m; wing area, 44 square meters.
  Empty weight 1,135 kg; loaded weight 1,535 kg; payload 400 kg
  Maximum speed 195 km/h. climb to 3,000 m in 15 minutes; range 5,000 m; endurance three to three to five hours
  Two 6.5-mm FIAT machine guns, one fixed and forced by the pilot, the other on a ring mount fired by the observer; three bombs carried externally