W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters
TEBALDI-ZARI (BREDA) Italy
In 1919, the Zari brothers’ factory in Bovisio Mombello, Milan, completed the prototype of a single-seat fighter sesquiplane to the designs of one Ing Tebaldi. Of wooden construction and of unequal-span, heavily-staggered sesquiplane configuration, it was powered by a 190 hp Isotta-Fraschini V6 six-cylinder water-cooled engine and was unusual in that it had oversize mainwheels on an undercarriage of exceptionally wide track, the axle for which was incorporated in the lower wing. The design rights and prototype were purchased by Breda, and, re-engined with a 300 hp Hispano-Suiza HS 42 eight-cylinder water-cooled power plant, the Tebaldi fighter became the subject in 1922 of a draft agreement between Breda and the Commissariato d’Aeronautica for three aircraft. No contract followed, but the original prototype was modified for participation in the 1923 fighter contest of the newly-created Regia Aeronautica. Carrying an armament of two 7,7-mm guns, the Tebaldi fighter was given redesigned wings, with the upper wing of longer span and narrower chord, stagger was reduced, and the gap between the fuselage and the lower wing increased. The incline of the outer struts was also increased to attach at the undercarriage axle, so that the outer panels of the lower wing could be removed for comparative flight testing of the aircraft as a sesquiplane. Further redesign was then undertaken, the chord of the upper wing being increased, ailerons enlarged and the outer panels of the lower wing eventually being discarded permanently. The fighter did not find favour with the Regia Aeronautica and Breda abandoned further development. The following data relate to the final HS 42-powered sesquiplane configuration.
Max speed, 158 mph (255 km/h) at 6,560 ft (2 000 m).
Time to 16,405 ft (5 000 m), 16 min.
Endurance, 3.0 hrs.
Empty weight, 1,819 lb (825 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,425 lb (1100 kg).
Span, 29 ft 6 1/3 in (9,00 m).
Length, 25 ft 7 in (7,80 m).
Height, 6 ft 6 3/4 in (2,00 m).
Wing area, 236.81 sq ft (22,00 m2).