Engineering:Alaparma Baldo

Baldo
Role	Civil utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Alaparma
Designer	Adriano Mantelli
Produced	1949-51
Number built	~35

The Alaparma Baldo was an unusual two-seat light monoplane produced in Italy shortly after World War II. Designed by Adriano Mantelli, it featured an egg-shaped fuselage with cabin doors that hinged upwards and to the back. The conventional tailplane with single fin and rudder was carried on twin booms, either side of a pusher engine installation. The undercarriage consisted of a single mainwheel under the fuselage pod, a small tailwheel not far behind it, and outrigger wheels on the wingtips.

Variants

• AM.65 with 65hp Walter Mikron piston engine
• AM.75 with 75hp Praga D engine

Operators

Italy

• Italian Air Force operated 10 aircraft until 1951

Specifications (AM.75)

Alaparma Baldo

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 5.08 m (16 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
• Height: 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 8.5 m² (91 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 280 kg (617 lb)
• Gross weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Praga D 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine, 56 kW (75 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 217 km/h (135 mph, 117 kn)
• Cruise speed: 192 km/h (119 mph, 104 kn) (75% power)
• Range: 660 km (410 mi, 360 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,700 ft)
• Time to altitude: 5 min to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

References

• Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.. 
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 51. 
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 404. 
• luftfahrt-archiv.de