The Fiat G.55 Centauro was a single-engine single-seat WWII Fighter used by the Regia Aeronauticaand theA.N.R.(Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana) in 1943–1945. It was designed and built in Turin by Fiat. The Fiat G.55 was arguably the best type produced in Italy during World War II, but it did not enter production until 1943, when, after comparative tests against the Messerschmitt Bf-109G and the Focke Wulf 190, the Luftwaffe itself regarded the Fiat G.55 as "the best Axis fighter"!

During its short operational service, this powerful, robust and fast aircraft proved itself to be an excellent interceptor at high altitude. In 1944, over Northern Italy, the Centauro clashed with the Spitfire IX, P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning, proving to be no easy adversary for the Allies.?

Fiat G.59 Variant:

The production of these orders for G.55s for Italy and Argentina caused the available stocks of the Italian licence-built version of the DB 605 engine to run short. As there was still a demand for the aircraft, it was decided to convert the type to use the more readily available Rolls Royce Merlin engine, with the first conversion flying in early 1948. The conversion was successful, and the Aeronautica Militaredecided to convert its G.55s to Merlin power, these re-entering service at the Lecce flying school in 1950 as the G.59-1A and G.59-1B (single- and two-seat versions). 

The final versions were the G.59-4A single-seater and G.59-4B two-seater, which were fitted with bubble canopies for improved visibility. Twenty G.59-4As and ten G.59-4Bs were purchased by Italy.

On 25 May 1992, I-MRSV it made its first post restoration flight from Lido di Venezia Airport, with Guido Zuccoli at the controls. It is one of only ten built and one of only two G.59-4B’s airworthy and flying today.

€1,050,000

240 Hrs Since Restoration 

• 2 x VHF Bendix King KX155 Comm
• 1 x Bendix King KT76A Transponder
• ACK 30 Encoder 
• Bendix King KR87 ADF

Stock military - good condition

Painted in original markings: Aeronautica Militare Italiana