Macchi Fighters : C.200 Saetta, C.202 Folgore, C.205 Veltro

Luigino Caliaro’s latest book “Macchi Fighters: C.200 Saetta, C.202 Folgore, C.205 Veltro” details the design, development, and operational deployment of the three main fighters produced by the Varese-based Aeronautica Macchi during World War II. The C.200 Saetta (Lightning), conceived in 1935 by Ing. Mario Castoldi, was a short-range interceptor powered by a Fiat A74 RC.38 14-cylinder radial engine and armed with twin 12.7 mm machine guns. By the end of the war, about 1,150 units had been built. The C.202 Folgore (Thunderbolt) featured the German Daimler-Benz 601A in-line engine, licensed-built by Alfa Romeo. Lastly, the C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was equipped with the more powerful Daimler Benz DB 605 engine. The internationally renowned British test pilot, Captain Eric Brown, praised the Macchi as “a superb fighter, with a beautiful line and good armament… In my opinion, its flying performance was totally comparable with the Spitfire.”

Drawing on company and military archive reports, aviation historian Luigino Caliaro traces the origins of Aeronautica Macchi and examines the design, development, production, prototypes, and technical aspects of each fighter. This profusely illustrated volume also covers operational variants and project designs, along with a detailed narrative of each aircraft’s service history with the Regia Aeronautica, the Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana, the Luftwaffe, and the Croatian Air Legion. Additionally, it explores post-war service with the Aeronautica Militare and the Royal Egyptian Air Force, as well as camouflage, markings, heraldry, and insignia.

With hundreds of photographs, drawings, and color artwork, this book provides the most comprehensive and informative account of this trio of aircraft in the English language.

About the author

Luigino Caliaro is an acclaimed aviation photographer based in northern Italy. His journey began in 1995 with a flight in the ‘back seat’ of an RAF Tucano. Since then, he has flown numerous photo-sorties with many of the world’s premier military aerobatic demonstration teams, including the US Navy’s Blue Angels, the Canadian Snowbirds, the Frecce Tricolori, and the Red Arrows. Caliaro has photographed many of the world’s most advanced military jet aircraft air-to-air, including the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, Tornado, Mirage, MiG-29, and Harrier. He has even flown a six-hour mission on board a B-1B Lancer, visited US Navy and French aircraft carriers several times, and experienced a landing and take-off in an Italian Navy Harrier from the deck of the aircraft carrier Garibaldi. Additionally, he has flown photo-sorties with aircraft from several historical aviation collections and museums worldwide.

Luigino is the author of several books on Italian aviation history and aviation photography, including the acclaimed *Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero – From Airliner and Record-Breaker to Bomber and Torpedo-Bomber 1934-1947*, published by Crecy in 2022. He has also written numerous magazine and journal articles in English. His article for Vintage Aviation News can be found HERE.