Ambrosini SS.4
| SS.4 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| The Ambrosini SS.4 | |
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | SAI-Ambrosini |
| Designer | Sergio Stefanutti |
| First flight | 7 March 1939 |
| Number built | 1 |
The SAI-Ambrosini SS.4 was an Italian fighter prototype developed in the late 1930s, featuring a canard-style wing layout and a 'pusher' propeller. Development of the SS.4 was abandoned after the prototype crashed on its second flight.
Sergio Stefanutti had already experimented with canard aircraft with the S.C.A. SS.2 and S.C.A. SS.3 Anitra ("Duck"), light aircraft built by Stabilimento Costruzioni Aeronautiche (SCA) at Guidonia (a new city focused on aviation). The single-seat SS.2 had a canard wing configuration, fixed undercarriage and was powered with a 2-cylinder Keller engine rated at 16 hp (11.93 kW). The SS.2 first flew in 1935, and one of the two prototypes was converted into a two-seater with a larger 38 hp (28.34 kW) CNA II engine built by Compagnia Nazionale Aeronautica. This new aircraft first took to the air on 2 October 1937 and was officially revealed in Milan at an international air exposition and the small fixed-undercarriage SS.2 was sent to Passignano for evaluation. Experience with this machine and the study of its aerodynamics led Stefanutti to design a canard style interceptor and air superiority fighter, designated SS.4, very similar in layout to the SS.2 and SS.3.
The SS.3 had a span of 12.77 m (41.9 ft) and was 6.00 m (19.7 ft) long with an overall height of 2.01 m (6.6 ft). With a 16 hp (12 kW) engine it was capable of a maximum speed of 87 mph (140 km/h) and able to reach an altitude of 13,120 ft (4,000 m) altitude. Stalling speed was 34 mph (55 km/h):
A prototype SS.4 was built at the Società Aeronautica Italiana - Ambrosini factory in Passignano sul Trasimeno, Umbria. Relatively little flying was carried out as development of the SS.4 was abandoned after the prototype crashed, killing the test pilot. The design barely compared favourably to contemporary fighters, and the Regia Aeronautica decided not to pursue the design, despite having already ordered a second aircraft which was cancelled.
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