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Paradoxically,
if the Seversky P 35 was not an "up to date" fighter, its conception
inspired several European manufacturers. Roberto Longhi, the chief
engineer of the Italian firm Caproni-Reggiane created the Reggiane
2000 from the drawings of the P-35, with an improvement
of its aerodynamic properties. During test flights, the prototype
of the fighter facing the Messerschmitt 109 and the Hawker Hurricane
proved its superiority on both of them. For that reason, the plane
got the interest of many European countries, including Great Britain
and Yugoslavia. For unknown reasons, the headquarters of Regia
Aeronautica rejected the aircraft. However, the Reggiane 2000
would be used by Sweden during the entire conflict, and extensively
by Hungary, this country having purchased the licence rights.
At the end of the thirties, Poland was desperately looking for
a new fighter in order to replace its old PZL P11 C. Tired of
waiting for the Morane Saulnier 406, or the Hawker Hurricane
promised by her allies, the Polish Air Force told engineer Wsiewolod
Jakimiuk to conceive a single seat fighter having performances
similar to those equipping the Air forces of other countries.
Jakimiuk built the PZL P-50 Jastrzab (Hawk) from the general
data of the P-35, powering the aircraft with an English built
840 HP radial engine Bristol Mercury. With an atmosphere
of progressively deteriorating relationship with nazi Germany,
the plane came too late to reach operational status. When Germany
invaded Poland, the first production planes were still on the
assembly line. The prototype, itself, was shot down by a Polish
anti-aircraft battery as the test pilot Jerzy Widowsky tried to
shelter it in Lwow. Very few documents about this plane remain
today, and its story is still widely unknown.
Finally, the P-35, despite its various shortcomings, was a commercial
success for Alexander de Seversky who joined with little efforts
the rank of the major airplane designers. The passion of
the American people for air races, and speed records, led him
to built civilian derivatives of his fighter from which he hoped
to achieve fame.
© Luc Fournier,
Aerostories 2000.
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