Science Art: Cockpit view of the Macchi MC.200 Saetta, 2009

18 November 2024 grant Featured, Science Art 0

Scientific illustration, or photograph, really, of the green-and-black geometry of a WWII fighter plane cockpit, with an angled canopy above and a steering yoke in center of a small array of dials and indicators.
Cockpit view of the Macchi MC.200 Saetta at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force World War II Gallery. Developed in the mid-1930s for the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force), the Saetta was one of its principal fighters during World War II. The prototype made its first flight in December 1937, and by Italy's entry into WWII in June 1940, some 156 were in service. A total of 1,151 were produced. The Regia Aeronautica first employed the Saetta against the British on the Mediterranean island of Malta. Italian pilots also flew the MC.200 in Greece, North Africa, Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The U.S. Army Air Forces fought against MC.200s in North Africa and over Italy itself. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees)
Scientific illustration, or photograph, really, of the green-and-black geometry of a WWII fighter plane cockpit, with an angled canopy above and a steering yoke in center of a small array of dials and indicators.

This image came from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force with the less-easy-to-understand name (or “designation”) “210921-F-AU145-2009.” But it’s the cockpit of an Italian fighter plane from World War II.

As the description says in the USAF gallery:

Developed in the mid-1930s for the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force), the Saetta was one of its principal fighters during World War II. The prototype made its first flight in December 1937, and by Italy’s entry into WWII in June 1940, some 156 were in service. A total of 1,151 were produced. The Regia Aeronautica first employed the Saetta against the British on the Mediterranean island of Malta. Italian pilots also flew the MC.200 in Greece, North Africa, Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The U.S. Army Air Forces fought against MC.200s in North Africa and over Italy itself. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees)

If you’re curious what an MC.200 Saetta looked like to someone other than the pilot, here’s a good photo of one from the same USAF exhibit, and here’s a video from an enthusiast.

Something the video makes clear that isn’t necessarily obvious at first glance from inside or outside the aircraft is that this is an open cockpit. The wind was whipping around the pilot’s head while flying this thing over the Mediterranean or patrolling the Alps.